One Hundred Years ago

Past display archive
8 February 2004 - 15 June 2005

Room 31

Free

Over 150 artist and subjects represented in the National Portrait Gallery were born in 1905. This display of photographs and that in the nearby showcase celebrates ten of these. This selection highlights personalities from a cross-section of society ranging from literature to law, music to the movies.

Rex Whistler (1905-1944)
Artist, illustrator and designer for theatre and ballet. Known for his murals in the Tate Gallery restaurant and at Plas Newyd.
By Howard Coster, 1936 (x12292)

Emlyn Williams (1905-1987)
Welsh-born playwright and actor. Best known for his thriller Night Must Fall (1935) and The Corn is Green (1936). Also celebrated for his readings from the works of Charles Dickens.
By John Gay, 1949 (x126539)

Sir Michael Tippett (1905-1998)
London-born composer whose oratorio A Child of our Time (1941) brought him wide acclaim. Had subsequent success with the operas Midsummer Marriage (1952) and King Priam (1958). Knighted in 1966 and awarded the Order of Merit in 1986.
By Cecil Beaton, 1944 (x14220)

Leslie Mitchell (1905-1985)
Edinburgh born actor and television broadcaster. Brought up by novelist W J Locke. After acting for ten years began his broadcasting career in 1934 and became the first male announcer in television in 1936. Later took part in the launch of commercial television in 1955.
By Baron Studios, 1950 (x75822)

Margery Sharp (1905-1991)
Novelist. Known for her clever plots and humour. Wrote for adults and children, publishing more than 40 books, including the well-known 'Rescuers' series.
By Howard Coster, 1939, (x125020)

Joan Morgan (1905-2004)
The daughter of the director Sidney Morgan. First appeared on stage as a child actress. Later became a leading silent screen star and appeared in 31 films between 1914 and 1931, including The Mayor of Casterbridge (1921), directed by her father. Also a scriptwriter and novelist.
By Bassano, 22 September 1924 (x83408)

Elisabeth Vellacott (1905-2002)
Artist. Trained at the Royal College of Art and best known for her landscape studies.
Also known for designs for fabrics and the theatre. By Ramsey & Muspratt, 1934 (x31091)
Helen Muspratt of the female photographic partnership, Ramsey & Muspratt, was also born in 1905 and died in 2001.

Dame Elizabeth Lane (1905-1988)
In 1965 became the first woman to be appointed a High Court Judge and worked in the Family Division. Began her legal career. Created a DBE in 1965.
By Baron Studios, 10 November 1965 (x125396)

Further portraits of and by people born in 1905 can be seen in the IT Gallery or on this website. These include portraits of Jean Forbes Robertson, H E Bates, Anthony Powell, Hastings Banda, Greta Garbo and Jean-Paul Sartre and works by photographers William MacQuitty and Barbara Ker- Seymer.