Dusty Springfield
- Artist: Vivienne (Florence Vivienne Entwistle, née Mellish)
- Date: 1962-1963
- Medium: vintage bromide print
- Dimensions: 9 7/8 in. x 8 in. (252 mm x 203 mm)
- Portrays: Dusty Springfield
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is a vintage bromide print by photographer Vivienne, taken between 1962 and 1963. The image is small – just under ten inches long – so you’ll see the portrait in detail, almost as if it were a close‑up photograph. Dusty Springfield sits in the frame, looking directly at us; her hair frames a calm face, the light catches the texture of the skin and the shadow in her eye. Because the print is on bromide film, the tonal range feels natural, with soft blacks and warm grays that give depth to his smile.
The photo captures Dusty during his prime as one of the greatest white‑soul singers of his era – noted for his husky voice and iconic style. The caption tells us he recorded songs such as “Son of a Preacher Man” in 1968, and later revealed his sexuality, an act that shaped his public image.
The photograph itself sits inside the National Portrait Gallery’s Photographs Collection, reflecting both the artistic quality of Vivienne’s work and Dusty’s enduring cultural presence.
See it in person
Dusty Springfield 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.
