Essential information
| Type | Talks and tours |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Date and times | 5 and 19 June 2025 | Tours start at 3.30pm |
| Prices | Adult: £5; Adult (includes a signed copy of the book): £20 | Adult Member: Free; Adult Member (includes a signed copy of the book): £18 |
| Discount for Members. Not a Member? Join now |
From privileged officers to working-class sailors, the representation of naval personnel has been a significant branch of British art for over 500 years.
Join Dr Katherine Gazzard, Curator of Art (Post-1800) at Royal Museums Greenwich, for a unique tour of the Queen’s House, exploring the complex and often surprising history of this fascinating artistic tradition. She will share highlights from her book, The Art of Naval Portraiture, which charts the historical evolution of the Royal Navy’s image from the sixteenth century to the present day.
Through the extraordinary artworks on display in the Queen’s House, the tour will decode the meaning of naval symbols, delve into the stories of artists and reveal the places where portraits were made and displayed. Each tour will focus on a different set of portraits.
Included is an opportunity to purchase a signed copy of the book at the discounted price of £20 (RRP £30).
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Tour information
- Dates: Thursday 5 and 19 June 2025.
- Time: Tours at 3.30pm.
- Duration: 30-45 minutes.
- Tour size: 20 people.
- Meeting point: Undercroft, located through the door between the curved exterior staircases.
- Prices: £20 for adults and £18 for adult members including a signed copy of the book The Art of Naval Portraiture. £5 for adults and free for members without a copy of the book.
- How to book: Tickets can be bought online or at the Admissions Desk, located in the Undercroft.
- Meeting point: Undercroft, located through the door between the curved exterior staircases.
- Suitability: Suitable for adults.
- Accessibility: The tour passes through several galleries located on different floors of the House. Step-free access is available via lift and access ramps.
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About the Curator
Dr Katherine Gazzard is the Curator of Art (Post-1800) at Royal Museums Greenwich. She has taught courses on art history and museum studies for the University of East Anglia and Yale University. Her research focusses on eighteenth-century British art, especially portraiture, and the cultural history of the Royal Navy.
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About the book
For centuries, naval portraits have forged, reinforced and challenged ideas of gender, heroism and loyalty. They have functioned as icons of empire, demonstrations of professionalism and personal mementoes for loved ones.
The portraits featured in the book The Art of Naval Portraiture reveal how the Royal Navy was viewed at different moments in history and grant us access to individual stories, revealing the concerns and aspirations of people and families caught up in naval affairs.
This book also tells the stories of specific artists, collectors, and the places where portraits were made and displayed, from private homes to public exhibitions and ultimately Royal Museums Greenwich itself.
Unable to attend the Curator Tour but interested in the book? Purchase a copy of The Art of Naval Portraiture on our online shop. Every purchase supports the work of Royal Museums Greenwich.
