Sir Ralph Richardson

1 portrait

Angus McBean Photograph. © Harvard Theatre Collection, Harvard University.

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Sir Ralph Richardson

by Angus McBean
bromide print, 1947
15 in. x 11 1/4 in. (380 mm x 287 mm)
Purchased, 1977
Primary Collection
NPG P66

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Angus McBean (1904-1990), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 283 portraits, Sitter in 79 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Pepper, Terence, Angus McBean Portraits, 2006 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 5 July to 22 October 2006), p. 67 Read entry

    Ralph Richardson was one of the leading actors of his generation and was, with Laurence Olivier and John Burrell, co-director of the Old Vic from 1944 to 1947. This portrait, published as the fifth in the series of 'Play Personalities', was deliberately engineered to illustrate the phrase 'he completely dominated the stage'. It also served to pay tribute to Richardson’s work with Alan Keen in helping to save the toy theatre business, Pollocks of Hoxton, after its wartime bombing. Richardson was to be one of McBean’s very last subjects, when Nigel Finch filmed the two theatrical legends reminiscing together and collaborating on a photograph in his documentary for the BBC's Arena.

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Events of 1947back to top

Current affairs

Princess Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey. Philip renounced his title of Prince of Greece and Denmark, to become Duke of Edinburgh when he married the heir to the throne.

Art and science

The first Edinburgh Festival includes performances by Kathleen Ferrier, Alec Guinness and Margot Fonteyn. The Festival is now a major annual international arts event that takes place over three weeks every August, and includes top class performers in theatre, music and dance as well as lesser-known performers who take part in the parallel 'Fringe Festival'.

International

India is granted independence from the British Empire and the former British Raj is partitioned into India and Pakistan. After various revolts and several years of civil disobedience led by Gandhi and his Quit India Movement, Britain agrees to disband the Raj and grant independence to India.
Palestine is partitioned into a Jewish State, an Arab State and a small internationally administered zone.

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