National Portrait Gallery Investigates Identity of Black Sitter in Rare 17th-Century Double Portrait

A significant research project has been launched at London's National Portrait Gallery, sparked by an enigmatic double portrait from 1626 depicting a Black teenager alongside a white youth. This artwork, which has been displayed at Penshurst Place in Kent for centuries, features both figures in equal proportions—an unusual choice for a time when Black individuals were often overlooked in European art. Senior curator Charlotte Bolland labels it "an incredibly early" full-length representation of someone of African descent in England. The investigation combines technical analyses, such as pigment testing and radiography, with insights from dress historians, genealogists, and hunting historians. The painting, first documented at Penshurst Place in 1743 and publicly showcased there since 1947, will be on view at the National Portrait Gallery from September to March 2028 following conservation efforts. Cultural historian Michael Ohajuru emphasizes that this equal representation challenges historical narratives, asserting, "We were here. You can't write us out." Similar research has uncovered other Black sitters, such as Peregrine Tyam in a portrait by Mary Lawley at Claydon House. A facsimile of this work is currently featured in the "Who Are the Two Boys?" exhibition at Penshurst Place, encouraging visitor engagement.