Diana Wynyard
9 of 2179 portraits by Dorothy Wilding
© William Hustler and Georgina Hustler / National Portrait Gallery, London
Diana Wynyard
by Dorothy Wilding
chlorobromide print on tissue and card mount, 1937
17 in. x 13 1/8 in. (433 mm x 333 mm)
Given by the photographer's sister, Susan Morton, 1976
Primary Collection
NPG P870(16)
Artistback to top
- Dorothy Wilding (1893-1976), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 2179 portraits, Sitter in 30 portraits.
Linked publicationsback to top
- 100 Fashion Icons, p. 101 Read entry
Diana Wynyard, one of a number of British actresses whose successful careers took them to Hollywood in the 1930s, wears an evening dress based on the classical Greek chiton, pinned at the shoulders and belted at the waist in this photograph. The classical influence is also apparent in the studio setting, in which photographer Dorothy Wilding (1893–1976) posed the statuesque Wynyard resting on a column. The neoclassical, modernist styling and theatrical glamour that characterise this photograph of Wynyard are typical of Wilding's portraiture.
- Owen, Elizabeth, Fashion in Photographs 1920-1940, 1993, p. 117
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 681
Events of 1937back to top
Current affairs
George VI becomes king. The younger brother of Edward VIII was crowned on the 12th May and the coronation was broadcast to Britain and the Empire on the radio. Edward becomes the Duke of Windsor, although the rank of 'Royal Highness' is not extended to Wallis Simpson.Neville Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister following Baldwin's retirement.
Art and science
Roland Penrose organises a tour of Picasso's painting Guernica to the UK. The painting, which shows the horrors of the Spanish Civil War, went on display at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in East LondonInternational
Commercial airship travel is brought to an end with the 'Hindenberg Disaster'. The German airship exploded while landing in New Jersey. The radio broadcaster Herbert Morrison's reaction has become legendary: 'Oh, the humanity!'Japan invades China, killing about 25,000. Japanese Troops committed numerous atrocities against soldiers and civilians in what became known as the 'Rape of Nanking'.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.
Related pages
- The World's Most Photographed
- Mirror Mirror: Self-portraits by women artists
- The Royal Ballet at 75
- The Face of Monarchy
- Before Windrush: Images of Black and Asian Figures
- A Question of Identity: Self-Portrait Photographs 1850-2000
- Centenaries and Centenarians
- Photographic holdings - print and negative collections
- Learn more
- In Close Up: Laurence Olivier
- Indian Nobility in Britain
- Love Stories
- Icons and Identities: Shakespeare to Winehouse
- Love stories: art, passion and tragedy