One of the agency’s new clients, Weatherman, is receiving mysterious postcards from an unknown person, who Strike and Robin call Postcard. Robin follows up on a hunch and visits the National Portrait Gallery, thinking Postcard could have a connection to the place.
“’The National Portrait Gallery,’ she said. ‘Three of Postcard’s postcards were bought in their gift shop.’” Troubled Blood, Chapter 16
After leaving her meeting with Strike at the Notes Café, Robin walks over to the National Portrait Gallery.
Robin purchases the same three postcards that Weatherman received from the gift shop and walks around the gallery.
Here are some of the many photos from inside the gallery that are available on Google Street View. You can also take a virtual tour of The National Portrait Gallery on their website and follow in Robin’s footsteps here.
Later, in chapter 26, Robin tells Strike about another postcard Weatherman received.
“’Our weatherman got another postcard yesterday, sent to the television studio. It’s the fourth one bought in the National Portrait Gallery shop, and it’s got an odd message on it.’”
“She pulled the postcard from her bag and handed it over the desk to Strike. The picture on the front reproduced a self-portrait of Joshua Reynolds, his hand shading his eyes in the stereotypical pose of one staring at something indistinct.” Troubled Blood, Chapter 26
Below is the self-portrait of Joshua Reynolds that appeared on the postcard. You can learn more about this portrait here.
The National Portrait Gallery is currently closed for refurbishment until spring of 2023, but you can find more information on their website here or find their location on the map below.
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