Dame Jane Goodall
- Artist: Wendy Barratt
- Date: 2023
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 25 3/8 in. x 25 1/4 in. (645 mm x 642 mm) overall frame size
- Portrays: Dame (Valerie) Jane Goodall (née Morris-Goodall)
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “Dame Jane Goodall” by Wendy Barratt, painted in oil on canvas in 2023. Look at the calm line of her jaw and the gentle curve of her lips – it’s a quiet study of her face. Notice the subtle play of light on her hair; Barratt used fine brushwork to capture texture while keeping the colors soft and natural. Her eyes look slightly off‑center, as if she’s already thinking ahead about conservation work in the wild. Barratt chose oil because it gives depth, letting the sitter’s features sit just a touch above the surface. Goodall, who lived from 1934 to 2025, pioneered studies of chimpanzees and founded her own institute. She was also named UN Messenger of Peace – an honour that sits alongside this intimate portrait. The painting is part of the Primary Collection at the National Portrait Gallery, donated by Storyvault Films in 2024.
See it in person
Dame Jane Goodall is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
