Essential History | The people, places and events that have shaped our history and culture
The people, places and events that have shaped our history and culture
The ‘Darkest Hour’; directed by Joe Wright and starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill is an account of Churchill’s early days as Prime Minister, machinations in 'Whitehall' and the Dunkirk evacuation. The film is set over one month in May 1940. It concludes with success at Dunkirk and Britain resolved to stand strong over Nazi [...]
Yesterday, the UK celebrated the 100th anniversary of the signing of the 'Representation of the People Act 1918'. This was the Act that gave many women the vote for the first time. The anniversary was reported widely in the media and to mark the occasion an exhibition of life-sized images of the central figures of [...]
This is a painting of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington by Sir Thomas Lawrence. It is an oil on canvas painted in 1829. In this portrait, Wellington’s commanding gaze evokes his resolve in defeating his critics, of which there were many at this time. His troops called him ‘old nosey’ and he called them [...]
Mutton pies all round! At the National Portrait Gallery you can see a series of ‘Kit-cat’ portraits of 48 leading Whig politicians and men of letters – all members of the ‘Kit-cat’ Club. The Kit-cat club was a dining club for leading Whig politicians and cultured types. They were essentially pro-big business and trade and [...]
This is a portrait of the 'Chief of Men', Oliver Cromwell, by Robert Walker. It is an oil on canvas and was painted in 1649 – the year King Charles I was tried and executed. Cromwell was a country gentleman who took up arms against King Charles I in order to protect the rights of [...]