We dropped into the Tudor section of the National Portrait Gallery the other day on our way to a theater matinee. The gallery is just off of Trafalgar Square, with Nelson's column and Landseer's famous lions. (I'll write about the theater performance later.)
We were also surprised to find an American "rebel" here.
This statue of George Washington was given to Britain by Virginia.
At the portrait gallery, we viewed pictures of Henry VII's six wives and of Elizabeth I. However, some that I had remembered from a previous visit, including Hans Holbein's portrait of Anne of Cleves, were not currently on display. (I wanted to see that portrait again because Henry became enticed with Anne based on that painting, but later described her in unkind terms as "the Flanders mare.") However, the portraits of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Parr were showcased, and my photos do not do them justice. The paintings have been carefully restored, and the colors, seen in person, are vibrant.
We went to the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields for lunch in the crypt.
It really is in the church's crypt. There are people buried there.
We hope the permanent residents didn't mind that we were lunching there on a delicious chicken curry soup with salad.
Profits from the food and pay concerts fund the church's charitable activities. The authorities are also happy to allow people to use some of their facilities, if in need, as shown below:
We hope to come back for one of the free lunchtime concerts in the crypt or one of their jazz evenings. One thing is for sure--the crypt is not just for dead people!
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