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RS Picture 3 Simon Hill And Clare Freestone

National Portrait Gallery acquires Kindertransport portraits

Portraits of Kindertransport refugees acquired by National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery, London, has acquired two portraits for their permanent collection from a series made by Simon Hill HonFRPS, President of the RPS. 

The portraits were commissioned by Warner Brothers Pictures to celebrate the European première of the film ‘One Life’ (dir. James Hawes) at the 2023 London Film Festival.    

The film ‘One Life’ - starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Flynn - tells the true story of Sir Nicholas Winton MBE, a British stockbroker and humanitarian who rescued 669 children, mainly Jewish, at risk of being murdered by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust. 

The portraits are of Kindertransport refugees, Alfred Dubs (The Right Honourable The Lord Dubs, Baron Dubs of Battersea) (born 1932) and Vera Scaufeld MBE (born Vera Lowyova, 1930), and were made in October 2023. 

 

RS Picture 2 Vera Scaufeld MBE By Simon Hill Honfrps
RS Picture 1 The Rt Hon Lord (Alfred) Dubs By Simon Hill Honfrps

The portraits, together with those of nine other Kindertransport refugees taken by Hill, were first seen in December 2023 at a special event hosted by Warner Brothers Pictures at the National Portrait Gallery and were subsequently included in an online exhibition hosted by the gallery and created in partnership with Warner Brothers Pictures to coincide with the release of 'One Life'.  See here.   

“It has been an immense honour to create photographic portraits of the Kindertransport refugees who, in 1938, fled the persecution of the Nazis and sought safety in Britain. I hope my portraits have captured their remarkable character, hinting at their stories of survival, and celebrating the profound contribution each has made to British society. The portraits of Alf Dubs and Vera Scaufeld acquired by the National Portrait Gallery for its Permanent Collection will ensure the legacy of these individuals, as representatives of all the Kindertransport refugees, is preserved for generations to come.  The inclusion of these portraits in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery reflects the deep respect and gratitude Britain holds for these refugees, whose resilience and determination has enriched the cultural, intellectual, and humanitarian fabric of the country. I hope future generations will see these portraits and through them celebrate the impact of the Kindertransport refugees on the British way of life, honouring their enduring place in our shared history."  Simon Hill HonFRPS 

Simon Hill HonFRPS was elected President of the Royal Photographic Society in January 2021and is the longest serving President since the late 1800s. He is an award-winning professional editorial photographer living in the north of England and working internationally.  

Clare Freestone, Curator of Photography, National Portrait Gallery, London said “We are delighted that these two portraits from Simon Hill’s portfolio of Kindertransport refugees are entering our Permanent Collection. Behind the contemplative photographs of Lord Alfred Dubs and Vera Scofield, captured sensitively by Simon, are two moving and inspirational lives." 

The portraits were made with a Hasselblad X2D-100c camera and Hasselbald XCD 55mm lens, using Profoto electronic flash lighting.  Hill had less than five minutes with each refugee to make the portraits.  The photographic prints, printed to size 20x16inch, were made by Genesis Imaging Ltd using Hahnemühle Baryta Fine Art paper. 

 

Image Credits:

Editorial Photographer and President of the Royal Photographic Society, Simon Hill HonFRPS (left), hands over two of his Kindertransport refugee portraits acquired by the National Portrait Gallery, London, to Clare Freestone, Curator of Photography (right) - photograph dated 26 September 2024.

Vera Scaufeld MBE (born Vera Lowyova, 1930) by Simon Hill HonFRPS (2023).

Alfred Dubs (later The Right Honourable The Lord Dubs, Baron Dubs of of Battersea) (born 1932) by Simon Hill HonFRPS (2023).