Desmond Morris with Congo

1 portrait by Herbert K. Nolan

© reserved; collection National Portrait Gallery, London

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Desmond Morris with Congo

by Herbert K. Nolan
bromide print, 24 July 1956
9 in. x 11 1/2 in. (228 mm x 292 mm) image size
Purchased, 1983
Photographs Collection
NPG x24198

Sitterback to top

  • Desmond John Morris (1928-), Zoologist, writer on animal and human behaviour and painter. Sitter in 5 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Herbert K. Nolan (born 1909), Photographer. Artist or producer of 17 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Morris has said of this portrait: 'The photograph was taken in my television den inside the London Zoo on 24th July 1956. It was from this den that I presented my weekly half-hour television programme Zoo Time. It was a specially built studio in the zoo that meant that animals did not have to be trundled off to TV studios outside the zoo. On this particular occasion a new chimpanzee had arrived at the zoo and would feature in many of the programmes. There was a competition to find a name for him - hence the piles of postcards on the desk in this photo. The name chosen was Congo and a small boy called James Wall was a special guest on the programme, as a prize for suggesting the winning name.'

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Events of 1956back to top

Current affairs

The first supermarket opens in Britain. Inspired by the new innovation in America, Jack Cohen opened his first Tesco supermarket in Essex.
The First Clean Air Act is passed in response to the 'Pea Soup' smog over London.

Art and science

Pop Art is seen for the first time in the This is Tomorrow exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery. The exhibition included Richard Hamilton's iconic collage: What is it that makes today's homes so different, so appealing?
John Osborne's play Look Back in Anger opens at the Royal Court Theatre, introducing the phrase 'Angry young man' to describe the new movement of gritty, post-war realism in literature.

International

The Suez Crisis rocked Eden's premiership and marked the decline of British world power and influence in favour of America. In 1956 President Nasser of Egypt nationalised the Suez canal. Although Britain and France, who had owned the canal since the 19th century, invaded Egypt, they were soon persuaded to withdraw by US President Eisenhower who disapproved of the occupation.

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