Although Elizabeth I and the wives of Henry VIII have been well served by television recently, other women from the Tudor and Stuart age have enjoyed less of the limelight. Now the National Portrait Gallery in London is staging Painted Ladies: women at the court of Charles II (until January 6, 2002), an exhibition of lush portraits of classy 17th-century women. The first important exploration of Restoration portraits for 20 years, the show is dominated by the paintings of Peter Lely, the King’s principal painter.
The Restoration woman best known today is probably Nell Gwyn, the comic actress who became Charles II’s mistress. Although it’s difficult to separate genuine portraits of her from apocryphal ones, the exhibition has images of her as well as many likenesses of Charles II’s other mistresses. Other subjects include Queen Catherine of Braganza, the royal princesses, some shrewd female patrons and other movers and shakers, creating a dazzling image of a neglected age.
Charles Saumarez Smith, director of the National Portrait Gallery, says:
“When I was a student of history in the mid-1970s, I don’t remember anyone being remotely interested in the Restoration.” All interest was focused on Cromwell and the civil wars, not on the “reactionary and torpid” years after 1660. “English portraiture was considered a backwater,” he says. This exhibition, concentrating on sexual politics, redresses the balance. Pre-booked groups of more than 10 children, pound;2 per head. Bookings: 020 7306 0055; www.npg.org.uk
More 17th-century art in The Stuart Portrait: status and legacy exhibition at the Southampton City Art Gallery (until December 30). Here the focus shifts to Charles II’s father, Charles I, who was a great patron of the arts in the 1630s, inviting painters such as Anthony Van Dyck and Peter Paul Rubens to work in England. The result is some glorious pictures of Stuart nobles and notables.
The gallery offers regular tours, talks and a half-term portrait workshop on October 30 for children aged eight and above. Details: 023 8063 2601; www.southampton.gov.ukleisurearts
One legacy of Britain’s imperial history is a huge archive of photographs, a selection of which are on show in the India: pioneering photographers 1850-1900 exhibition at the Brunei Gallery in London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (until December 15). The photographs, drawn from the British Library’s Oriental and India Office and the Howard and Jane Ricketts collections, include scarce images from the 1840s. This is a wonderful group of images that celebrates the subcontinent’s ethnic diversity. As well as public lectures, there are primary and secondary projects, an Inset day on October 31 and teacher’s notes. Details: Katriana Hazell, 020 7499 1287; k.hazell@asiahouse.co.uk; www.education.bl.uk August Wilson’s Jitney is in repertory at the Royal National Theatre in Black History Month. The title is the American name for an unlicensed cab company, and the play is set in 1970s Pittsburgh. It tells the story of the men who drive the jitney cars and their struggle to survive economic hardship and racial prejudice. Wilson is the United States’ best-known black playwright. His work - which includes Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone - explores the experience of African-Americans. Box office: 020 7452 3000.
Half-term events at the National in London include Play, an introduction to Japanese culture for children. On October 22 and 24, there are performances of Baby Love, a warm play about a new baby’s effect on an only child (box office: 020 7452 3000).
London’s South Bank also holds its first festival of children’s literature, Imagine: writers and writing for children, this week. This includes events for adults, with poet Michael Rosen giving his views on the literacy hour at noon tomorrow (details: 020 7960 4242; www.rfh.org.ukfamily).
This weekend, York hosts the SightSonic 2001 festival, with interactive computer workshops, exhibitions, music, video and online participation (details: www.sightsonic.com).
Exhibitions and activities aimed at young audiences are also taking place at the Mercer Art Gallery and Royal Pump Room Museum in Harrogate (details: 01423 556188).
In Newcastle, the Centre for the Children’s Book presents Ohanashi! Ohanashi! (“A story! A story!”), a family festival tied to the Through Eastern Eyes exhibition of Japanese picture books at the Hatton Gallery, which embraces origami, haiku, printing, handscroll and music workshops (details: 0191 222 6059). Have a happy half-term.
