The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour, Mignard: The Power of Posing

Coming soon: Pierre Mignard's The Marquise de Seignelay visits South Shields Museum & Art Gallery from Saturday 29 August - Saturday 7 November 2026.

At the heart of this exhibition is The Marquise de Seignelay (1691) by Pierre Mignard, one of seventeenth-century France's most celebrated portrait painters. Created at a time when portraiture was a powerful symbol of wealth, status and influence, the painting demonstrates how the artist carefully crafted every detail, from pose and clothing to setting and expression, to communicate the sitters' story.

Portraits are far more than likenesses. They are a direct connection between artist, sitter and viewer through the power of paint. Every gesture, glance and carefully chosen accessory contributes their story, revealing not only how the sitter wished to be seen but also the life they lived.

As you explore the exhibition, meet the gaze of each subject. Look closely at their poses, clothing and the subtle details that hint at their lives, ambitions and personalities. Consider the choices made by both artist and sitter, and the stories they chose to tell.

South Shields Museum & Art Gallery has been selected as one of just four partners to host the National Gallery Masterpiece Tour, a three-year transformative opportunity to bring world-class art to the North East.

Wellness Weekends are back - check the what's on page to book.

Every year, the National Gallery partners with organisations and audiences across the UK to ensure that everyone in Britain can engage with their national collection.

The Masterpiece Tour 2025–27 is a partnership between the National Gallery, Sainsbury Centre, Norwich; South Shields Museum and Art Gallery; Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool, Ferens Art Gallery, Hull and Cooper Gallery, Barnsley who work together to select and display a painting from the National Gallery in exhibitions which offer new ways for audiences across the UK to experience the painting.

Partners and Funders

Image credit: Pierre Mignard, 'The Marquise de Seignelay', 1691