Rachel Reeves replaces paintings of former male prime ministers with art representing lockdown and ‘Covid anxiety’
Rachel Reeves has transformed No 11 Downing Street by removing traditional portraits of male prime ministers and royalty in favour of contemporary artworks depicting lockdown and Covid anxiety.
The Chancellor has taken down portraits of predecessors David Lloyd George and Benjamin Disraeli, along with images of British monarchs, replacing them with abstract pieces exploring social distancing and pandemic themes.
A portrait of Lloyd George by Sir William Orpen was among the notable pieces removed from No 11’s walls following Labour’s election victory.
A marble bust of Benjamin Disraeli by Charles Bell Birch has also been taken down, along with a terracotta bust of Charles James Fox.
The Chancellor has taken down portraits of predecessors
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Portraits of James I and James II, previously installed by Rishi Sunak, were also removed.
In their place, Reeves has selected “Covid Anxiety 5 (Mask Disorder)” by Donna Coleman, featuring an abstract human head formed by a red squiggle.
The work appears alongside “Misunderstood”, which shows a charcoal swirl with a black square.
The Chancellor has also installed “Portrait of a Woman (Invisible Virus)”, part of Lisa Fielding-Smith’s “Quarantine Collage” series created from women’s magazine cut-outs.
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Rachel Reeves has transformed No 11 Downing Street
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Reeves has emphasised her commitment to displaying artworks “of a woman or by a woman” in her 2024 statement.
A statuette of Suffragist leader Millicent Fawcett, which served as the model for Parliament Square’s larger work, now stands in No 11.
The Chancellor has also installed a portrait of Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, who was portrayed by Rachel Weisz in The Favourite.
Next door in No 10, Sir Keir Starmer has overseen similar changes to the artwork on display.
The Prime Minister has removed portraits of several historical figures, including Elizabeth I, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Margaret Thatcher.
A portrait of William Shakespeare has also been taken down, leaving no images of the renowned playwright in Downing Street.
The Chancellor has taken down portraits of predecessors, such as Benjamin Disraeli
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All artworks involved in the changes are part of the Government Art Collection, which contains 15,000 pieces.
The collection is typically used to project British soft power during official visits.
Ministers are entitled to select works from the collection to decorate their offices upon taking up their positions.
Starmer faced criticism for the changes, with accusations of “philistinism” following the removal of Shakespeare’s portrait.
The Treasury has been contacted for comment regarding the changes.