Sir Iqbal Sacranie
© Don McCullin / National Portrait Gallery, London
Sir Iqbal Sacranie
by Don McCullin
gelatin silver print, 6 September 2006
19 1/4 in. x 15 1/2 in. (490 mm x 395 mm)
Commissioned as part of the Photographs Collection and transferred, 2007
Primary Collection
NPG P1287
Sitterback to top
- Sir Iqbal Sacranie (1952-), Secretary General, Muslim Council of Great Britain. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Artistback to top
- Sir Donald ('Don') McCullin (1935-), Photographer. Artist or producer of 18 portraits, Sitter in 6 portraits.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Howgate, Sarah; Nairne, Sandy, A Guide to Contemporary Portraits, 2009, p. 30 Read entry
The Faith and Church series represents a journey through the cultural diversity of contemporary Britain. The portrait of Sir Iqbal Sacranie (b. 1952), Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Great Britain, is one of ten representing the major faiths of today. The Gallery’s decision to commission Don McCullin, documenter of human tragedy and conflict, to make the portraits may seem perverse. The strength of his work, however, lies not simply in bearing witness but in his exploration of light and composition, and in his innate humanity. Each portrait is set in an environment that reflects the sitter’s spiritual life. The settings are rich with information, the lighting emotive, the compositions quiet, while the sitters are presented as dignified and eminent.
Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top
- Faith and Church: Portraits by Don McCullin (3 February 2007 - 13 May 2007)
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 2006back to top
Current affairs
The Loans for Peerages affair erupts after four businessmen who gave unpublished loans to the Labour Party are nominated for peerages. The scandal revealed a legal loophole: while political parties must declare all large donations, they were not required to declare loans. This led the Police to investigate whether the parties had broken the 1925 Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act, and to Lord Levy and Tony Blair.Art and science
A year of blockbuster exhibitions including Modernism at the Victoria and Albert Museum, a Surrealism exhibition at the Haywood Gallery, Michaelangelo Drawings at the British Museum, Valezqueth at the National Gallery, Rodin at the Royal Academy, Holbein at Tate Britain, and David Hockney Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery.International
Following the kidnapping of two Israeli Soldiers by Lebanese Hezbollah militants, Israel launches a heavy artillery attack and ground invasion on Lebanon. In response Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel and engaged the Israeli Defence Forces in guerrilla warfare. The conflict ended after claiming over 1500 lives - mostly Lebanese civilians - with a UN resolution calling for Hezbollah's disarmament and Israel's withdrawal of troops from Lebanon.Comments back to top
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