Robert Winston
1 of 4 portraits of Robert Winston
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Robert Winston
by Tom Wood
oil on panel, 1999
46 in. x 44 in. (1168 mm x 1118 mm)
Commissioned, 1999
Primary Collection
NPG 6519
Sitterback to top
- Robert Maurice Lipson Winston, Baron Winston (1940-), Obstetrician and pioneer of fertility treatment. Sitter in 4 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Tom Wood (1955-), Painter. Artist or producer of 3 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.
This portraitback to top
The devices in the background of the portrait make reference to the biological processes involved in Lord Winston's work; on the right are abstracted shapes representing the structure of egg cells and fallopian tubes and the injection of a single sperm during the fertilisation process. The shadow on the left derives from a skull in the sitter's office and the stave indicates his interest in music.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 672
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1999back to top
Current affairs
Following referendums in 1997, The Scottish Parliament is opened and Welsh Assembly established in 1999. The new Scottish Parliament has the powers to pass legislation and alter tax. The Welsh Assembly currently has less legislative authority but controls a budget for Wales and can amend legislation passed by Westminster.The House of Lords Act removes all but 92 Hereditary Lords from the second chamber.
Art and science
Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman's film, Shakespeare in Love wins the Oscar for Best Picture. The film, starring Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Judi Dench, Geoffrey Rush, and Colin Firth, among other British screen stars, provides a fictitious account of the events that inspired William Shakespeare to write Romeo and Juliet.International
NATO begins a bombing campaign against the government of Yugoslavia following the breakdown of the Rambouillet Accords that attempted to grant Kosovo autonomy within Serbia under NATO administration. After nearly three months of bombing, Slobodan Milosevic agreed to allow a peacekeeping force to enter Kosovo and the province was placed under a United Nations Interim Administration.Comments back to top
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