Press Release

10 July 2008

BERN SCHWARTZ: PORTRAITS OF THE 1970s
11 July 2008-4 January 2009, National Portrait Gallery, Room 33, Admission free
In association with the Bernard Lee Schwartz Foundation

A new display at the National Portrait Gallery will show a selection of one of the biggest-ever gifts to the Gallery, 140 of the most iconic photographs of famous 20th century British subjects. The photographs are by Bern Schwartz (1914-1978), a Californian who turned to photography in his early sixties after a successful career in business. Taken between 1975 and 1978 they include portraits of Margaret Thatcher, Rudolf Nureyev, John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft, Lord Denning, the Prince of Wales, A J Ayer, Tony Benn, Zandra Rhodes and Twiggy.

The gift presented by the Bernard Lee Schwartz Foundation comprises portraits of some of the most prominent figures from British life in the late 1970s, including actors, politicians, artists, academics and royalty. The portraits often capture the subjects in surroundings reflecting their personality, life and work. Henry Moore is pictured in his studio with his sculpture, Peggy Ashcroft is shown in front of Walter Sickert's portrait of her in Venice, Margot Fonteyn sits by her painted portrait by Pietro Annigoni, John Gielgud is at home in his Buckinghamshire villa, while David Hockney is seen in his studio with his self-portrait and painting, My Parents.

While Schwartz may not be a household name, many of his images now in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery are among the most famous portraits of the late twentieth century. Several were selected by their subjects for use as book jackets, official photographs or record-album covers. Margaret Thatcher chose Schwartz's 1977 portrait for her campaign poster. A 1982 commemorative First Day Cover of a philatelic issue in England featured his classic profile of Lord Mountbatten.

Schwartz, who in 1974, at the age of 60, decided to dedicate his energy to photography, selected eminent portrait photographer Philippe Halsman as his mentor. While Schwartz learned his technique from Halsman, he brought to his portrait-visits his own rich and diverse experience. His considerable charm and extensive research on his subjects' interests, enabled him to converse intelligently and establish a good rapport, allowing him to elicit spontaneous gestures and expressions. The sittings frequently ripened into enduring friendships.

By 1975, this one-time hobby became a serious vocation. Schwartz's first public recognition came in England, where his friend Lord Rothschild and his son, Jacob, invited him to mount an exhibition at London's Colnaghi Gallery to commemorate the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977. The gallery furnished him with a list of 97 eminent British personalities, hoping a third of these could be photographed in a mere four months. To their surprise, Schwartz produced 91 portraits for the exhibition.

As a result of this successful display, in 1978, Collins Publishers published the book Contemporaries: Portraits by Bern Schwartz. Invitations and commissions for portraits followed internationally and, between 1977 and 1978, he produced over 200 portraits of prominent citizens. These include six prime ministers, a prince, two kings, a Pope, diplomats, musicians, politicians, philosophers, stars of ballet, opera, cinema and theatre, financial and industrial leaders, writers, artists and scientists. All were photographed in less than four years.

The art historian Kenneth Clark wrote of these images: 'Bern Schwartz's photographs portray for us a section of English society in the 1970s as vividly as the photographs of Mrs [Julia Margaret] Cameron portrayed the society of the 1860sI believe that the historian of England in the 1970s will find these photographs an invaluable guide to the intellectual life of the time; and meanwhile we can enjoy them as wholly admirable examples of the art of photography.'

Bern Schwartz, who died of cancer at the age of 64, began his own company after leaving university at the age of 23, manufacturing parts for the electronics industry, including the Norden bomb sight. After the Second World War he set up an export company, and later purchased a textile company. In 1968 he sold the company, Patchogue Plymouth, to Standard Oil of Indiana, having acquired Sherman Clay Company, purveyors of pianos and organs.

In addition to dye transfer photographs, the gift includes archival items comprising negatives, slides and proof prints. The Bernard Lee Schwartz Foundation has also funded the cataloguing and digitisation of the collection, and established a series of 'Masters of Photography' lectures to occur biannually over a six-year period. The first Schwartz Lecture will take place at the Gallery in November 2008 with author John Julius Norwich - whose mother, Lady Diana Cooper, features among the sitters - and historian Hugo Vickers, as guest speakers.

Michael Schwartz, President of the Schwartz Foundation, and the photographer's son, says: 'We are delighted and honoured to have these portraits by Bern Schwartz included in the Primary Collection of the National Portrait Gallery. We hope the pictures will be seen and enjoyed by those interested in the subjects. We can think of no better home for them.'

Sandy Nairne, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, London, says: 'Remarkable for their vivid colours and often informal style, Schwartz's portraits join the Gallery's permanent Collection alongside the work of other celebrated twentieth-century photographers such as Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Arnold Newman, Lewis Morley, Yousuf Karsh and Lord Snowdon. I am grateful to Ronny Schwartz, Bern Schwartz's wife and collaborator, their sons, Michael and Eric Schwartz, and the Bernard Lee Schwartz Foundation for this generous gift.'

30 portraits from the Schwartz gift will be shown at the Gallery (10 July 2008-4 January 2009). Schwartz recorded sittings in his journal, excerpts from which will be included in the display.

PUBLICATION
An illustrated 32-page booklet by Dr Anne Varick Lauder accompanies the display price, £2

For further press information please contact: Neil Evans, Press Office, National Portrait Gallery, Tel 020 7312 2452 (not for publication) Email nevans@npg.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

Sitters include: Kenneth Clark, Baron Clark, Henry Moore, Dame Elisabeth Frink, Zandra Rhodes, Clare Francis, Alistair Cooke, Malcolm Muggeridge, Sir Isaiah Berlin, Sir Osbert Lancaster, Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Louis Mountbatten, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Sir Siegmund Warburg, Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, Gemma Jones, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Sir John Gielgud, Dame Peggy Ashcroft, Tony Benn, Lord Denning, John Curry, Lester Piggott, Angela Rippon, Rudolf Nureyev, David Hockney, Dame Antoinette Sibley and Eloise Sibley, Sir Anthony Dowell, Sir A. J. Ayer, Lady Diana Cooper, HRH The Prince of Wales, Twiggy Lawson, Dame Merle Park, Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven .

National Portrait Gallery opening hours Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday: 10am ­ 6pm (Gallery closure commences at 5.50pm) Late Opening: Thursday, Friday: 10am ­ 9pm (Gallery closure commences at 8.50pm) Nearest Underground: Leicester Square/Charing Cross Recorded information: 020 7312 2463 General information: 020 7306 0055 Website: www.npg.org.uk

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All images and text are subject to copyright protection. 06 October 2008