Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
You'll see plenty more portraits in the Tate Britain, right up to modern times. Each
era had its own style. Portraits from the 1500s are stern and dignified. The 1600s brought
a more relaxed and elegant style and more décolletage.
(See “Tate Britain Overview” map,
here
.)
With peace at home (under three King Georges), a strong overseas economy, and a grow-
ing urban center in London, England's artistic life began to bloom. As the English grew
more sophisticated, so did their portraits. Painters branched out into other subjects, captur-
ing slices of everyday life. The Royal Academy added a veneer of classical Greece to even
the simplest subjects.
