While the traditional study of portraiture in Britain has concentrated on depictions of the upper classes and the celebrated, the National Portrait Gallery in London is redressing the balance through a new exhibition.

Below Stairs: 400 Years of Servants’ Portraits focuses on the portraits of servants, from grooms to governesses, maids to musicians. This is the first such presentation and brings together many works which have rarely been seen in public.

The exhibition presents around 100 portraits spanning from the 17th century to the 20th century.

It includes not only domestic servants but also institutional staff such as the porter from the Royal Academy and the British Museum’s housekeeper. These portraits tell the story about power, class and human relationships across the centuries. Details: www.npg.org.uk