Johan Zoffany, ‘The Bradshaw Family,’ 1769 © Tate

Family Matters: The Family in British Art is an ambitious touring exhibition that shows how the subject of the family has been and continues to be a challenging yet enduring subject for artists.

Divided thematically, the exhibition showcases the best of British art with works by David Hockney, Anthony van Dyck, William Hogarth and Tracey Emin. Contemporary and historic works are juxtaposed to show how the traditional family portrait has been replaced with a more frank portrayal of the family. Formal portraits were frequently staged for political or personal purposes, whereas the more recent works offer a view that can only be described as ‘behind the scenes’ creating a tension between the public and private portrayal of the family.

Family Matters: The Family in British Art will run from 15th Octo0ber 2012 to 24th February 2013 at Tate Britain.