Portraiture, with Simon Schama and Eleanor Nairne

Human beings have been making visual depictions of human life for tens of thousands of years. Fascination with our own likeness is one of the great constants of human history – and the portrait has long been the focus of that fascination. What can portraits tell us about the world? And what can they tell us about ourselves? In today’s episode – originally recorded live in Sotheby’s in the week that the National Portrait Gallery reopened in London – Helena Newman, Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, sat down with Barbican Art Gallery curator Eleanor Nairne, and the award-winning art historian Simon Schama, for a conversation about the enduring power of the portrait.  To see any of the portraits discussed in this episode, or to watch an extended version of this talk, visit https://www.sothebys.com/en/series/sothebys-talks-celebrating-portraiture And, to step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Om Podcasten

 For almost three centuries, Sotheby’s has been the place to discover the greatest stories of creativity. We’ve been the temporary custodians of some of the world’s finest treasures, which you can see on display in our galleries on any given day. Sotheby’s Talks is the podcast that celebrates art, culture, and collecting. Featuring conversations with tastemakers, collectors and luminaries from the world of art and culture, this series invites you inside the world of Sotheby’s: a place where you can find the extraordinary – including contemporary art, Old Master paintings, rare books, jewellery, and memorabilia. Season 2, which focuses on legacy, features guests including Bella Freud, Joachim Pissarro, Paul Signac’s great granddaughter Charlotte Hellman and Claude Monet’s great-great grandson Philippe Piguet. To step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com.