From the collection of Sir Roy Strong
A wonderful portrait drawing by David Hockney of Sir Roy Strong. Drawn when at Cecil Beaton’s house with Hockney on Whitsun weekend, 1969 and acquired by the sitter.
One of the most respected ever figures in art academia, Strong graduated with a first-class honours degree in history from Queen Mary College, University of London. He then earned his PhD from the Warburg Institute and became a research fellow at the Institute of Historical Research. He became assistant keeper of the National Portrait Gallery in London in 1959. In 1967, aged 32, he was appointed its director, a post he held until 1973.
He set about transforming its conservative image with a series of extrovert shows, including 600 Cecil Beaton portraits 1928– 1968. Dedicated to the culture of the 1960s and 1970s, Sir Roy went on to amuse audiences at the V&A in 1974 with his collection of fedora hats, kipper ties and maxi coats. By regularly introducing new exhibitions he doubled attendance. Reflecting on his time as director of the National Portrait Gallery, Strong pinpointed the Beaton exhibition as a turning point in the gallery's history.
In 1973, aged 38, he became the youngest director of the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A), London. His tenure lasted until 1987, during which he was knighted in the 1982 New Year Honours. He was also appointed Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 2016. The National Portrait Gallery Collection has seventeen portraits of Strong but they do not have a portrait of Strong by Hockney. The present work is the only known portrait of Sir Roy Strong by David Hockney
