LONDON.- A previously unseen portrait of Prince William and Prince Harry by Fergus Greer and a portrait of Tracey Emin by David Bailey will form part of a new display highlighting the photographs recently acquired by the National Portrait Gallery. Eighteen by Twelve: Recent Photographic Acquisitions from 7 February 2011 in Room 41a will show eighteen prints by twelve contemporary photographers, all on display for the first time at the Gallery.

Every year the National Portrait Gallery acquires a diverse selection of photographic portraits which offer a visual reflection of contemporary British life and culture. The sitters in this display include recent portraits of popular scientist Brian Cox, poet Christopher Reid, actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Andy Serkis and Mackenzie Crook, and singer songwriter K T Tunstall. The display will also include comedienne Catherine Tate, contemporary singer M.I.A, Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, newspaper executive Rebekah Wade, comedian Ronnie Corbett, artist Frank Auerbach, and film director Terence Davies. The photographers represented range from established portrait photographers such as David Bailey, Fergus Greer and Jason Bell to photographers whose works are represented in the Collection for the first time such as Kate Peters, Debra Hurford Brown, Richard Saker and Spencer Murphy.

Seen in the display for the first time is an informal double portrait of Princes William and Harry taken at The Commandants House at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Photographer Fergus Greer was commissioned by Clarence House to take the portrait in December 2006 in preparation for the Concert for Diana in 2007, but the photograph was not published. The portrait is only the second double portrait of the two Princes to enter the Gallery’s Collection, the first a formal commissioned portrait by artist Nicky Philipps unveiled in 2010. Philipps, was unveiled in 2010.

The Photographs collection consists of more than 220,000 original photographic images dating from the 1840s to the present day. Founded in 1856, the aim of the National Portrait Gallery is to collect portraits of famous men and women who have made and are making British history and culture.