Does hanging a load of portraits together on an art gallery wall invite visitors to engage more with the paintings, or to look less? There’s an argument that says by placing so many collection items together, we invite the visitor to investigate individual pieces less closely. But then there’s reasoning, which I much prefer, that says by creating a visual spectacle, we bring visitors towards our collections, showing them that there are different ways of hanging them and of looking at them. And by showing a range of paintings, in a collage like this one, there’s more chance of a visitor finding something that really appeals to them, making the experience more personal and relevant.

But who are these people? You can just see, on the balustrade there, a handsheet which has all the info you need, laid out in a diagram form, so you can find all the names, dates, artists etc.