May 17, 2013 through January 5, 2014
Boris Chaliapin was the portrait artist Time magazine’s editors turned to first when they needed a cover in a hurry. As Time’s most prolific artist, he created 413 covers for the publication during his 28-year career, between 1942 and 1970. He could execute excellent likenesses in as little as 12 hours. Week after week, millions of faithful readers recognized Chaliapin’s familiar signature on the cover, and his co-workers nicknamed him “Mr. Time.” The exhibition features 26 of the 300 works by Chaliapin in the Portrait Gallery’s collection. Portrait Gallery historian James Barber is the curator of this exhibition.
