18 OF 22 
Sir Charles Robert Saumarez Smith
18 of 22 portraits by Tom Phillips
© National Portrait Gallery, London
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Sir Charles Robert Saumarez Smith
by Tom Phillips
oil on panel, polyptych, 2003
25 3/8 in. x 8 7/8 in. (644 mm x 226 mm)
Commissioned, 2003
Primary Collection
NPG 6648
Sitterback to top
- Sir Charles Robert Saumarez Smith (1954-), Art historian; Director of the National Portrait Gallery. Sitter in 14 portraits, Artist or producer of 1 portrait.
Artistback to top
- Tom Phillips (1937-2022), Artist, writer and composer; Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. Artist or producer of 22 portraits, Sitter in 6 portraits.
This portraitback to top
This portrait continues the National Portrait Gallery's tradition of commissioning portraits of departing Directors. Weekly sittings took place at the artist's studio over the past year, the artist's preferred working method in order to study his sitter over the passage of the changing seasons. The process was been recorded on film by Bruno Wollheim for Channel Four. Tom Phillips is a renowned artist, translator and collector whose works in the Gallery collection include portraits of Iris Murdoch and Susan Greenfield. In his choice of a three-quarter profile Phillips sites Bellini as an influence. Commenting on the experience of sitting for the portrait Charles Saumarez Smith said: After a year of probing and exploration and long hours of looking out of the window and watching the seasons pass, I was suddenly a free man. I did not like it. I felt as if something had been taken away from me, not my appearance, but my shadow.
Placesback to top
- Place made: United Kingdom: England, London (artist's studio, Bellenden Road, Peckham, London)
Events of 2003back to top
Current affairs
Biological weapons expert, David Kelly commits suicide after being questioned by the government over allegations that the Iraq weapons dossier had been 'sexed-up' by the government. The Hutton Inquiry into Kelly's death concluded that he had taken his own life and that the BBC's claim was unfounded, leading to the Director General's resignation. No stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq after the 2003 invasion.Art and science
England wins the Rugby World Cup in the final against Australia. The match was exceptionally close with Australia equalising with just two and a half minutes of extra time remaining. 21 seconds before the end of the match, England's fly-half Jonny Wilkinson scored a drop-goal, winning the match and the tournament.International
America leads an invasion of Iraq after accusing the country of building Weapons of Mass Destruction. Initial success was achieved with the toppling of Saddam Hussein's government and George Bush's declaration of the end of major conflict - 'Mission Accomplished' - within two months of the invasion. The conflict, however, was not over, and British and American troops continued fighting with insurgents to stabilise the country.Comments back to top
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