Sir John Kenneth Tavener
3 of 4 portraits by Michael Taylor
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Sir John Kenneth Tavener
by Michael Taylor
oil on canvas, 2001
44 in. x 32 in. (1120 mm x 815 mm)
Purchased, 2002
Primary Collection
NPG 6607
Artistback to top
- Michael Taylor (1952-), Painter. Artist or producer of 4 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.
This portraitback to top
The composer is depicted in his study revising his 7-hour long piece,The Veil of the Temple. Commissioned by The Temple Church, London, it will premiere there next summer in a dusk until dawn performance. Michael Taylor exhibited twice in the John Player Portrait Award and was the winner in 1983.
Events of 2001back to top
Current affairs
Labour wins a second landslide general election victory campaigning on improvements to public services based on private finance projects. The Conservative party proved itself to be out-of-touch by ignoring public services and campaigning on the issue of Britain's membership of the EU. The day after the election William Hague resigned as leader of the Conservative Party.Art and science
The Eden Project opens in Cornwall. The eco-centre, conceived by Tim Smit, replicates tropical and temporal climates and houses plants from all over the world in two domed biomes. The project is both a large-scale scientific experiment to study the environmental changes in different biomes over time, and a visitor attraction teaching the public about the natural environment.International
On 11th September (9/11) America comes under foreign attack for the first time since Pearl Harbour when Islamic Fundamentalist terrorists hijack four planes, flying two into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre, and one into the Pentagon; the fourth plane crashed in a field.George Bush launches his 'War on Terror' by invading Afghanistan to overthrown the Taliban and capture Osama bin Laden, leader of al-Qaeda.
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