Staff Profile: Thomas Hardy, Intern
To learn about interning at the National Portrait Gallery, please visit our internships page.
This is the latest installment in our series of mini-portraits of NPG staffers and interns. We recently spoke with Thomas Hardy, who is currently at work on multiple projects. He is also a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan.
Q: Where are you from, and what are you studying?
A: I am from Massachusetts—the South Shore near Plymouth. I am currently a museum studies student at the George Washington University with a focus on museum administration.
Q: What projects are you working on at the National Portrait Gallery?
A: I honestly have been working on whatever needs to get done. Most of my time has been spent doing work for the Office of External Affairs, either for development or events. The last major project that I was working on was the preparation for the opening of "1812: A Nation Emerges", which was such a great time!
Q: Do you have a favorite work in the NPG collection?
A: It’s hard for me to select a favorite work because I like so many different paintings for so many different reasons. However, I would have to say that my personal admiration for both Teddy Roosevelt (below) and Winston Churchill place those two as my favorite paintings, the former because I think that the artist captured his personality perfectly. As for Winston Churchill, I just love the fact that we have a portrait of him in the Gallery.
Q: Have you had some memorable experiences at NPG in your time here?
A: I’ve had many memorable experiences at NPG. However, I think that the best experience I have had is being around the museum all day long. There is nothing like going over to the Gallery in the morning before it opens to check paintings or labels or in the evening to prepare for an event. It is such a beautiful place, and I have felt so privileged to contribute in any way that I can.
Q: Do you concede that the Cincinnati Reds’ victory over the Sox in the 1975 World Series was the greatest moment in baseball history, and that Cincinnati deserved to win?
A: HA, HA. . . . You should also note that while the Reds won that World Series, which ESPN ranks only the second-greatest World Series ever, the Red Sox are responsible for winning the greatest World Series—in 2004. But, hey, who’s counting?
