Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has been honored with a new portrait unveiled at the MCC Museum at Lord’s, celebrating his iconic career.
A New Honour for the Master Blaster
The portrait of Sachin Tendulkar was officially revealed just before the third Test match between India and England. This latest recognition adds to a long list of achievements for the Indian cricketing icon.
The artwork was created by acclaimed artist Stuart Pearson Wright. He based the painting on a photograph he took of Tendulkar at his home nearly two decades ago. The portrait will initially be displayed in the MCC Museum before moving to its permanent home in the iconic Pavilion later this year.
The Artist’s Unique Vision
Stuart Pearson Wright is no stranger to capturing Indian cricket legends on canvas. He has previously painted portraits of other greats like Kapil Dev, Bishan Singh Bedi, and Dilip Vengsarkar.
For Tendulkar’s portrait, Pearson Wright utilized a unique technique, painting with oil on abraded aluminium. The background of the portrait is abstract, chosen specifically to symbolize Tendulkar’s timelessness and his universal appeal, unconfined by any particular era or place.
Unlike his earlier full-length portraits, this piece focuses more intimately on Tendulkar’s head and shoulders. It is presented in a heroic, larger-than-life scale, designed to convey a sense of gravitas and power.
Tendulkar’s Emotional Connection to Lord’s
Sachin Tendulkar himself expressed deep gratitude for the honour. He recalled his first memory of Lord’s in 1983, when he witnessed Kapil Dev lifting the World Cup, a moment that ignited his passion for cricket.
Tendulkar remarked that having his portrait displayed inside the Pavilion feels like his journey has come “full circle.” He shared that reflecting on his career brings a smile to his face, emphasizing that this recognition is “truly special.”
Lord’s: A Repository of Sporting Art
The Lord’s Portrait Programme has been actively commissioning new artworks for three decades. However, the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) has a much longer history of collecting art and artifacts, dating back to the Victorian period.
The MCC opened its dedicated museum in the 1950s, making it the oldest sporting museum in Europe. The Long Room Gallery within Lord’s is particularly famous, known as the oldest and most iconic gallery in sports.
The Club’s extensive collection includes approximately 3,000 pictures, with nearly 300 of these being portraits of cricketing figures.
Key Takeaways
- Sachin Tendulkar’s portrait, painted by Stuart Pearson Wright, has been unveiled at Lord’s MCC Museum.
- The portrait is oil on abraded aluminium with an abstract background, symbolizing Tendulkar’s timelessness.
- Tendulkar described the honour as completing a “full circle” from his first memory of Lord’s in 1983.
- The MCC Museum is Europe’s oldest sporting museum, housing a vast collection of art, including nearly 300 portraits.
- The artist chose a larger-than-life scale and a focus on Tendulkar’s head and shoulders for this unique piece.
This latest addition further solidifies Sachin Tendulkar’s legendary status within the hallowed halls of cricket history at Lord’s, ensuring his legacy continues to inspire generations.
