John Lennon

© Paul McCartney

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John Lennon

by Linda McCartney
platinum print, 1968
20 1/4 in. x 14 in. (514 mm x 356 mm)
Given by the photographer, Linda McCartney, 1994
Primary Collection
NPG P575

Sitterback to top

  • John Lennon (1940-1980), Musician; co-founder and singer for The Beatles. Sitter in 90 portraits, Artist or producer of 2 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Linda McCartney (1941-1998), Photographer, artist, musician, businesswoman, cookery writer and animal rights activist. Artist or producer of 14 portraits, Sitter in 10 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Photographed at Abbey Road Studios during the recording of the Beatles' The White Album.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Cooper, John, Great Britons: The Great Debate, 2002, p. 151 Read entry

    Paul McCartney and American photographer Linda Eastman married in March 1969; no other Beatle was invited to the wedding. Relations between Paul and John worsened as the group disintegrated, with Paul's affairs managed by Linda's family law firm. Paul and John carried the dispute into music; John's 'How Do You Sleep?' was pure invective.

  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 376
  • Toksvig, Sandi; Dyer, Richard, Gay Icons, 2009 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 2 July - 18 October 2009), p. 47

Placesback to top

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Events of 1968back to top

Current affairs

Enoch Powell delivers his 'Rivers of Blood' speech in Birmingham in opposition to anti-discrimination legislation and immigration from the commonwealth. The speech is usually regarded as racist and blamed for stirring up racial prejudice. Powell was sacked from the shadow cabinet as a result, but received considerable public approval at the time for his views.
Fay Sislin becomes England first black woman police officer.

Art and science

Beaton Portraits is the first ever photographic exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Under the directorship of Roy Strong, the exhibition introduced a new, theatrical approach to display, and was so popular that the national press reported on the length of queues to get in and it had to be extended twice.

International

Civil unrest escalates in France as student protesters, joined by striking workers, clash with the police. The events came to represent the conflict between the new, liberalised, left-wing generation and the forces of authority and conservatism. French protests were mirrored by others abroad including the Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia, where political liberalisation was achieved for a few months before the country was invaded by the Soviet Union.

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