“The most successful portraits are not just about the likenesses but they actually say something about the subject themselves”

For hundreds of years students and Fellows of St John’s have enjoyed communal dining in Hall seated beneath portraits of distinguished members of College.

Now an official portrait of Heather Hancock, the first female Master of St John’s College, has joined the gallery adorning the wood-panelled walls along with a new painting of Professor Jane Heal, philosopher and St John’s Fellow who served as the first female President of the College between 1999 and 2003.

The new artworks are in fine company. The focal portrait in Hall is that of Lady Margaret Beaufort, founder of St John’s College and grandmother of Henry VIII, whose 16th-century portrait has recently undergone restoration. Slave abolitionist William Wilberforce, who was an undergraduate at St John’s, is another eminent figure among the portraits along with fellow alumni William Wordsworth, the Romantic poet, and Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India.

The Master’s new portrait in some ways mirrors that of Lady Margaret Beaufort in that both women are featured almost full length. The Master had regular sittings for nine months at the West London studio of portrait artist James Hayes, who works exclusively from life. He said: “My work is a collaboration between me, the sitter and those who know them best, such as their family members.

“The most successful portraits are not just about the likenesses – of course that’s important – but it's actually about saying something about the subject themselves, their nature, their character. The sitter and I talk constantly while I work, it unlocks a sense of who they are.”

James’s classical approach to portraiture relies on natural light, composition and the preparation of his own pigments and canvases. The acrylic portrait of Professor Heal, by award-winning artist Emma Wesley, is more contemporary in style. Emma, who names 15th-century Flemish painter Jan van Eyck as an influence on her work, is a self-taught portrait artist who studied literature at Selwyn College, Cambridge and painting conservation at the Courtauld Institute in London.

Her portrait of Professor Heal, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, is set in a sunlit window seat of the Fellows’ Green Room, against a background of Second Court. The portrait, also painted from life over the period of a year, reflects Professor Heal’s personality and interests. The gentleman seen walking across the Court outside is Ludwig Wittgenstein, the Austrian-born Cambridge academic regarded by many as the greatest philosopher of the 20th century. The red balloon seen floating in the sky through the top right window pane represents the times Professor Heal organised events for Fellows and their families as President.

Emma said: “I painted her in her role as President of the College rather than solely as a philosopher and an academic, so we found that lovely space in which she looks as if she is inviting someone to sit down and have a chat, making people feel welcome.”

James, who trained at the Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence, said: “Portraits should be as relevant in 200 years’ time as they are today. St John’s is an incredible historical institution and there are a lot of Masters’ portraits with motifs tied to the College. What we really wanted to celebrate is Heather as the first female Master. It’s a celebration of womanhood.

“It was a joy to work with her. She’s an inspiration for all the student body as they sit in Hall having dinner. They can look up at the portrait and think, ‘that could be me one day’. They can go off and do brilliant things in between, then come back and perhaps fill those shoes in years to come.”

Published 21/9/2023

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