Portrait of Sir Charles Clore
- Artist: Graham Sutherland OM
- Date: 1965–75
- Medium: Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions: support: 1080 x 940 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
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About this artwork
This is the portrait of Sir Charles Clore by Graham Sutherland. Painted in oil on canvas between 1965 and 1975, the work measures 1080 × 940 mm, a size that lets the figure sit comfortably in the frame. Clore, a prominent businessman, is shown seated in a crisp suit, his hands clasped in a calm posture. Sutherland’s brushwork is dense and almost sculptural, with a muted palette that focuses attention on the sitter’s face and the subtle play of light across his features. The portrait was brought into public view on a long‑term loan from a private collection in 2002 and is on display at Tate Britain. Its presence here invites visitors to consider how Sutherland captures not just likeness but the quiet authority of a man who shaped mid‑century commerce. The oil medium gives the canvas a rich depth, while the dimensions keep the viewer close to the sitter’s expression, making the portrait a striking study in quiet power.
See it in person
Portrait of Sir Charles Clore is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, 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.
