Discover the portraits of William Larkin through the eyes of artist Stephen Farthing RA in a new exhibition at Kenwood.

Stephen has long had a fascination with Grand Manner or ‘swagger’ portraits and has been creating his own twists on the form since early in his career.

During successive coronavirus lockdowns, Stephen made new paintings after the unique set of portraits by the Jacobean artist William Larkin (c.1580 - 1619) at Kenwood, which leave no doubt in the viewer’s mind about the wealth and prestige of their subjects.

For the first time, Stephen’s new paintings as well as a selection of his earlier works will hang alongside portraits by Larkin and other artists who have inspired him.

Book Tickets

Stephen Farthing will be in residency in the Dairy at Kenwood during the exhibition when he will be working on a painting inspired by John Hoppner’s Mrs Jordan as Viola in ‘Twelfth Night’, as chosen by the Kenwood volunteers.

There will be group tours to visit Stephen at Kenwood’s Dairy each day between 10–13 September at 11am and 11:30am. Tours are free and no booking is required but numbers are limited and will be available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Please gather at the main entrance to the House 15 minutes before the start time and a member of the Kenwood team will escort the group to the Dairy.

Stephen Farthing, A Dance To The Music of Time (Cecil after Larkin). 2020-21. Acrylic on cotton duck. 171 x 202 cm. Photograph © Moira Jamrisko