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George IV: Art Spectacle
George IV was arguably the most magnificent of British monarchs. By the time George ascended to the throne in 1820 after nine years as Prince Regent, he was already well-known for his extravagant lifestyle. Visual display played an important role in his public image, an image that he worked hard to control. Through the spectacular interiors of his houses and palaces, numerous flattering portraits, carefully choreographed state occasions, and his fashion choices, George IV attempted to shape public perception of his person as heir to the throne and as king.
George was the collector and commissioner of many of the finest works of art in the Royal Collection. He also turned Buckingham House into a Palace, radically remodeled Windsor Castle inside and out, and built the Royal Pavilion at Brighton, an oriental-style pleasure palace by the sea. In London, his architectural vision extended to the design of Regent Street and Regent’s Park. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, and a period of unprecedented global exploration, this book considers the monarch’s public image, taste for the theatrical and exotic, admiration of French style, and all-consuming passion for collecting. George Art & Spectacle is published to accompany a major exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, timed to coincide with the bicentenary of George IV’s accession to the throne. This volume offers a long-overdue reappraisal of one of the most important figures in the formation of the Royal Collection.
George was the collector and commissioner of many of the finest works of art in the Royal Collection. He also turned Buckingham House into a Palace, radically remodeled Windsor Castle inside and out, and built the Royal Pavilion at Brighton, an oriental-style pleasure palace by the sea. In London, his architectural vision extended to the design of Regent Street and Regent’s Park. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, and a period of unprecedented global exploration, this book considers the monarch’s public image, taste for the theatrical and exotic, admiration of French style, and all-consuming passion for collecting. George Art & Spectacle is published to accompany a major exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, timed to coincide with the bicentenary of George IV’s accession to the throne. This volume offers a long-overdue reappraisal of one of the most important figures in the formation of the Royal Collection.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published January 22, 2020
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February 9, 2020
Among the several exhibition companion catalogues produced by the Royal Collection Trust, this is among the finest. The quality of production - the images, the paper, the cover - are all amazing. Given that Goerge IV was likely the most prolific collectors in the history of the royal house of Great Britain, I DID expect it to be a thicker book, but I suppose they had to cut it at some point. It is a manageable read and I always enjoy how these guides feature essays by specific experts in each of many aspects of the monarch’s collection.
Displaying 1 of 1 review