Judi Dench

Sitterback to top

• Dame Judith Olivia ('Judi') Dench (1934-), Actress. Sitter associated with 13 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Alessandro Raho (1971-), Artist. Artist of 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

Raho has spoken of how he attempted to 'trap something I saw in Judi Dench while she waited in the foyer of the NPG, unaware of me'. The result is a portrayal of the actress in a role cast for her by the artist, highlighting the paradoxical ability of portraiture to make a picture of a person that is both a description of their appearance and a mask. Although photography is an integral part of his engagement with painting, the portrait retains painterly qualities such as the delicate brush strokes and soft tonal effect.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Audio Guide
• Howgate, Sarah; Nairne, Sandy, A Guide to Contemporary Portraits, 2009, p. 10
• Nairne, Sandy; Howgate, Sarah, The Portrait Now, 2006, p. 23

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• The Actress Now (20 September 2011 - 8 January 2012)

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Commissions - Paintings and Drawings
• On display at the Gallery