This new bay of paintings illustrates the flourishing of British art in the 18th Century
This new bay of paintings illustrates the flourishing of British art in the 18th Century
Visitors to Buckingham Palace this summer will be able to see almost twice as many paintings in the Picture Gallery following a redisplay of the Royal Collection.
The Picture Gallery, one of the State Rooms open to members of the public during the summer months, now displays 120 paintings, up from 63.
The transformation took 875 hours and included the installation of emerald-green silk wall hangings and new lighting.
Anna Reynolds, surveyor of the King’s pictures, said: “This rehang is an exciting and rare opportunity to significantly increase the number of world-class paintings on display for visitors, in line with our charitable aim to share as much of the Royal Collection as possible.”
The Picture Gallery was first designed to showcase George IV’s collection
The Picture Gallery was first designed to showcase George IV’s collection
Over the years, the room has been decorated in a range of colours, including golden yellow, lilac (which was fashionable during the Victorian period), crimson red, olive green and coral-pink.
The Picture Gallery was originally designed to showcase George IV’s collection as part of architect John Nash’s transformation of Buckingham House into Buckingham Palace.
George IV died before seeing the project completed, and the first paintings were hung after his niece Queen Victoria ascended to the throne in 1837.
A Young Man with a Falcon, attributed to Jan van Boeckhorst, c.1630, is the painting that has undergone the most conservation to prepare it for public display
A Young Man with a Falcon, attributed to Jan van Boeckhorst, c.1630, is the painting that has undergone the most conservation to prepare it for public display
Today, the room is used by the Royal Family to host guests, including heads of state, and for receptions and celebrations. It is now visited by more than half a million visitors each year.
Highlights of the redisplay include The Tribuna of the Uffizi by Johan Zoffany, A Rough Dog by George Stubbs, believed to depict George IV’s dog, and Thomas Gainsborough’s portrait of the musician Johann Christian Fischer.
Also new this summer is a large 2023 oil painting of King Charles III by Jonathan Yeo.
Johan Joseph Zoffany’s The Tribuna of the Uffizi, 1772–77
Johan Joseph Zoffany’s The Tribuna of the Uffizi, 1772–77
Reynolds added: “It continues the longstanding tradition of renovations and rehangs in the Picture Gallery that have commonly taken place following a change of reign, and we are delighted to be able to share it with as many people as possible this summer.”
The Picture Gallery can be visited as part of Buckingham Palace’s Summer Opening, with tickets available through the Royal Collection Trust.
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