Regency galleries open at the National Portrait Gallery
April 2003

The National Portrait Gallery's newly refurbished Regency galleries have opened to critical acclaim, with special praise for Piers Gough's design, Lucy Peltz's curation, and Cogapp's interactives.

The Regency in the Weldon Galleries covers a British history from the beginning of the French Revolution to the passing of the Great Reform Act in 1832 - a period of innovation, invention and progress in politics, science, literature, commerce, and industry. Iconic figures of this period of social reform and sexual intrigue include Admiral Nelson and Emma Hamilton, Jane Austen, and Lord Byron as well as monarchs of the period - the troubled George III, his son the Prince Regent, who became king as George IV, and his successor William IV.

The rooms have been hung thematically according to historical groupings and sitters have been brought to life by providing a sense of their historical context, spheres of influence and social networks. Over 130 works of art have been displayed, with a number of works being shown for the first time

Unprecedented access to the Regency collection has been made available through interactive terminals in the galleries ("Excellent", The Guardian). Based on the Woodward Portrait Explorer system these have been developed by the National Portrait Gallery working with Cogapp. Visitors can search a broad range of Regency subjects and there is an illustrated Regency timeline.

New interactive features include in-depth explorations of several major works and access to objects which could not be permanently displayed, for example the complete works of the caricaturist James Gillray, which are otherwise bound as nine volumes.

One of the interactive features allows the visitor to trace the web of connections which spun out from the amorous affairs of the Prince Regent, later George IV.

The Regency opening marks the completion of a ten-year programme of refurbishment and re-display which has included the addition of the Ondaatje Wing and the renovation of every gallery space in the building. The £1.2 million project was made possible by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the generosity of a number of private donors.