PAST EXHIBITION ARCHIVE

RESTORATION LIVES:
SAMUEL PEPYS AND HIS CIRCLE

31 March - 26 October
Room 6

Samuel Pepys
by John Hayls, 1666

2003 marks the tercentenary of the death of the famous diarist Samuel Pepys (1633 - 1703). The National Portrait Gallery will be celebrating the occasion with a special display and a two-day conference in September.

Samuel Pepys recorded his observations about life in London after the Restoration at a dramatic moment in history. He was among those who brought Charles II back to England to be crowned King and he watched the fire of London engulf the city in 1666. As a successful civil servant he had access to influential circles and his remarkable diary, begun in 1660, records his relationships with hundreds of men and women of his time. A special display in Room 6 will explore their lives and personalities through Pepys's critical and perceptive eye.

Portraits on display include many of those who knew Pepys well, such as Navy colleagues, actresses, painters, his patron Edward Montagu, (Earl of Sandwich) and the King himself. Pepys's own wife Elizabeth, whom despite his many infidelities, he clearly loved, is represented by a plaster bust. Portraits of his associates Sir John Harman, Sir William Petty, George Monck, (Ist Earl of Albermarle) and the architect Christopher Wren have been brought out of storage especially for this display.

A National Portrait Gallery publication Samuel Pepys and his Circle by Richard Ollard, part of the Character Sketches series, is on sale in the Gallery bookshop, special Gallery price £5.00 (RRP £5.99). Also available from all good bookshops.

Conference: Samuel Pepys and Restoration London

The Museum of London and the National Portrait Gallery are running a two-day conference on 26th and 27th September. Speakers include award-winning Pepys biographer Claire Tomalin, and a range of Pepys experts. Topics include Pepys and Personalities, Restoration Wives, Pepys and the Art World and Fashion and Dress in Pepys London.

Tickets £25 (£20 concessions) for both days. One-day ticket only available for Friday 26 September - £20 (£15 concessions). For further information or to book a place, please contact the Museum of London on 020 7814 5777 (office hours only).

National Portrait Gallery opening times
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday: 10am - 6pm
Late Opening Thursday, Friday: 10am - 9pm
Recorded information: 020 7312 2463

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All images and text are subject to copyright protection. 25 July 2008