Bruce Kent

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Bruce Kent

by Hans Schwarz
oil on board, 1992-1993
48 1/8 in. x 35 in. (1222 mm x 888 mm)
Purchased, 2004
Primary Collection
NPG 6663

Sitterback to top

  • Bruce Kent (1929-2022), Campaigner for nuclear disarmament; priest. Sitter in 3 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Hans Schwarz (1922-2003), Painter; sculptor; illustrator; author. Artist or producer of 14 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Bought at the studio sale of the artist, the sitter recalls that Schwarz asked to paint him, and did so in three sittings in Kent's flat in North London, in December 1992 and February 1993.

Placesback to top

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1992back to top

Current affairs

The Church of England votes narrowly in favour of the ordination of women priests. The first women priests were ordained in 1994, inspiring the popular sitcom The Vicar of Dibley.
John Major is forced to take the pound off the European Exchange Rate Mechanism after Black Wednesday, when currency dealers continued selling sterling despite a dramatic increase in interest rates. The event damaged the Conservative party's reputation irreparably.

Art and science

The long-running sitcom Absolutely Fabulous airs for the first time on the BBC starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley as style-obsessed, middle-aged media luvvies Eddy and Patsy. June Whitfield played Eddy's mother, and Julia Sawalha her long-suffering daughter Saffy (or, 'sweetie darling').

International

Members of the European Community sign the Maastricht Treaty leading to the creation of the European Union. The treaty led to the creation of the 'Euro' currency and its policy was based on a 'three pillars structure' concerned with: 1. Community. 2 . Foreign and Security Policy. 3. Criminal Matters.
At a referendum, Bosnia and Herzegovina vote to become a separate state from Yugoslavia. Civil war soon broke out.

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