Tracey Emin Death Mask sent to Margate as 50 National Portrait Gallery works are ‘coming home’ They’re coming home – NPG sends famous portraits back to home towns

Tracey Emin’s Death Mask will go on display in Margate Library as part of a National Portrait Gallery initiative to loan famous portraits to parts of the country they are most associated with.

Emin, brought up in Margate, created the 3D bronze cast of her face in 2002, as an ironic reference to the autobiographical nature of her work.

It was bought by the Gallery (NPG) last year and joined the museum’s collection of death masks of historical figures.

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50 art works are ‘coming home’

The mask will travel to the seaside town where Emin “enjoyed” her formative years for the first time, as part of the major new project, Coming Home.

Fifty portraits of “iconic individuals” will be sent to the towns and cities across the country they are most closely associated with next year.

Wilberforce portrait returns to Hull

The loans to Hull, Leicester, Dover, Bradford, Sheffield and Margate, include Sir Thomas Lawrence’s unfinished portrait of William Wilberforce, the Yorkshire MP who led the campaign to abolish slavery, coming to Hull for the first time.

One of the first works acquired by the NPG when it was established in 1856, it was said to capture “the intellectual power and winning sweetness of the veteran statesman.” The portrait will go on display in the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull in 2019.

Richard III portrait to Leicester

The NPG’s famous 16th century portrait of Richard III will be loaned to the New Walk Museum and Art Gallery in Leicester, the city in which the king was buried.

David Hockney’s “Self-Portrait with Charlie” will be lent to the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in the artist’s hometown of Bradford.

Emma Wesley’s portrait of Johnson Beharry, who served in the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment and is the first living British person, since 1965, to be awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in Iraq in 2004, travels to the PWRR (Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment) & Queen’s Museum in Dover.

Kate Peters’ photographic portrait of Sheffield-born Jessica Ennis-Hill taken in 2012, when the athlete won the Olympic gold medal in the heptathlon, will go on loan to Museums Sheffield.

Brontë portrait

The NPG has already returned the only known surviving portrait of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë together to its original home at the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth.

The painting is on display as part of the celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of Emily Brontë’s birth.

Dr Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, said: “We hope that sending portraits ‘home’ in this way will foster a sense of pride and create a personal connection for local communities to a bigger national history; thus helping us to fulfil our aim of being truly a national gallery for everyone, in our role as the nation’s family album.”

Victoria Pomery, Director, Turner Contemporary said: “Tracey Emin grew up in Margate and much of her practice has been inspired by the town and her experiences here.”

“The installation of her portrait in Margate Library is the first time it has been exhibited outside London since its acquisition and coincides with Emin’s decision to relocate her studio to Margate.”

Minister – First step in right direction

Jeremy Wright, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: “Every corner of the UK has well known faces who have played a significant role in our nation’s history. I am delighted that fifty of these famous figures will be returning home so that current generations can be inspired by their stories.”

“We are determined to ensure that more of the UK can see some of our world-class art collections, and with thanks to the National Portrait Gallery, Coming Home is an exciting first step in the right direction.’