The River & Rowing Museum has announced that it is redisplaying Justin Mortimer’s portrait of Sir Steve Redgrave, following a loan by the Edington Charitable Trust.  Hung in pride of place within the entrance to the galleries, the portrait was completed in 1998, shortly after the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, where Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent won Team GB’s only gold medal of the Games in their coxless pair.  This very same boat is currently on display in the museum café on the ground floor.

Justin Mortimer won the BP Portrait Award in 1991 and has painted other important commissions such as portraits of HM Queen Elizabeth II and Harold Pinter. His blend of realism and the abstract creates striking images that are sure to grab attention.

Museum Curator, Cate Tren, said, “This portrait of Sir Steve Redgrave by Justin Mortimer is a fantastic way for us to celebrate the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It’s an iconic image of an iconic athlete, and hopefully will have a striking impact on our visitors. We’re thrilled to have the portrait back on display and are very grateful to the Edington Charitable Trust for this loan.”

Visitor information

• Address:  The River & Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 1BF.  Tel: 01491 415600. Email: museum@rrm.co.uk.
• Entry to the cafe and museum shop is free of charge.
• For ticket prices please visit the museum’s website below.

Experience Henley Cardholders can get a 20% discount on both daily and annual passes at the River & Rowing Museum. Just show your card on your app at reception to claim the discount. Need a card? Sign up here and download the app to start saving www.experiencehenleycard.co.uk

About the River & Rowing Museum

The River & Rowing Museum, designed by architect Sir David Chipperfield, was opened in 1998 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  The Museum won the Royal Fine Art Commission’s Building of the Year in the UK and the National Heritage Museum of the Year in 1999. 

The Museum has five permanent galleries:

• River:  Dive into stories of the mighty, yet ecologically fragile, river Thames.  Learn more about the wildlife that calls it home, the landscapes and livelihoods it has shaped and the art and culture it has inspired.   
• Rowing:  Unleash your inner Olympian with hands-on and interactive exhibits that immerse you in the Olympic sport of rowing from its historical roots to the international sport it is today.
• John Piper:  The River & Rowing Museum has the UK’s only dedicated gallery to the work of celebrated Modern British artist, and Henley local, John Piper. Experience first-hand his artistic versatility; from painting and drawing to stained glass and ceramics.
• Henley:  Learn about the history of our famous town. From Stone Age settlements to river life and rowing regattas, the history of Henley is told through objects as diverse as Iron Age hoards to steam launches and paintings – including Jan Siberechts’s Henley from the Wargrave Road painted in 1698. 
• The Wind in the Willows:  A perfect introduction to Kenneth Grahame’s famous story The Wind in the Willows for children and adults alike.  The famous tale of friendship between four riverbank companions is retold in theatrical 3D, with a magical soundscape for all the family.