Help us continue conservation work

The National Portrait Gallery has created the most comprehensive collection of Britain's greatest figures and preserving the Collection is one of our most important activities.

Please help us with this important project.

John Donne:  This remarkable picture is one of the earliest portraits of an Elizabethan poet.  It was acquired by the Gallery in 2006 but the painting is in need of significant conservation work including the removal of layers of old varnish and later additions. The Gallery has raised £16,900 to date with the generous support of Individuals, Charitable Trusts and Foundations. We urgently need to raise £3,000 to complete the conservation of this important portrait. Please donate now. Thank you for your support. Donate now Find out more

Why are we asking for your help?

As a charity, we need your help. We rely on ongoing donations from our supporters to meet the enormous cost of providing outstanding exhibitions and programmes for almost two million visitors annually and to maintain and develop our Collection. In addition to the funding we receive from the government, each year we need to raise £7 million for education programmes, conservation of works of art, new acquisitions and commissions, displays and research.

Your support will help ensure that we are able to continue preserving the Collection so it remains inspiring and relevant now and for future generations.

Find out more about our conservation work on our Conservation pages including details of the Making Art in Tudor Britain project, a major research project that will help transform understanding of portraits in the Tudor and Jacobean periods.