Royal Collection: Difference between revisions
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The art collection of the British Royal Family. Although it is property of the monarch as sovereign, the Queen does not own it as private individual. The Royal Collection is held in trust for the Queen’s successors and the British nation. Housing several thousand pieces of art, the Royal Collection may be regarded as one of the world’s greatest art collections. The present collection does not only include fine art, such as paintings, drawings and sculpture. Large parts of the stock consist of decorative art. Jewellery, ceramics, clocks and silver belong to the collection as well as books, manuscripts, prints and maps, armour and various textiles. | |||
The Royal Collection is on display at several locations including royal palaces and residences such as Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace, all of which are open to the public. On the one hand the works of art may be seen in their historic setting, on the other hand it is possible to discover them in the purpose-built Queen’s Galleries. The latter offer a changing programme of special exhibitions. In order to exhibit as many pieces of art and broaden public access, over 3,000 objects from the Royal Collection are on long-term loan to galleries and museums around the UK and abroad. | |||
Although some surviving items belong to earlier monarchs such as [[Henry VIII]], the Royal Collection has largely been formed since the [[Restoration]] of the monarchy in 1660. Unlike museum collections the Royal Collection developed out of personal interests and acquisitive instincts. Within the last 500 years the personal tastes of British queens and kings had a lasting effect on the Royal Collection. Some of the most important additions were given to the collection by [[Charles I]] who was not only a passionate collector of Old Masters but a keen patron of contemporary artists like [[Peter Paul Rubens]] and [[Anthony van Dyck]]. Especially during his reign the quality and quantity of the purchased pictures established the Collection’s high status. Another landmark is the acquisition of the Öttingen-Wallerstein collection of early Italian, German and Flemish pictures under Queen [[Victoria I|Victoria]]. | |||
Although some surviving items belong to earlier monarchs such as Henry VIII, the Royal Collection has largely been formed since the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660. Unlike museum collections the Royal Collection developed out of personal interests and acquisitive instincts. Within the last 500 years the personal tastes of British queens and kings had a lasting effect on the Royal Collection. Some of the most important additions were given to the collection by Charles I | |||
The various pieces of art entered the Collection either by means of purchase or exchange, confiscation or as (diplomatic) gifts. | The various pieces of art entered the Collection either by means of purchase or exchange, confiscation or as (diplomatic) gifts. | ||
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'''The Royal Collection Trust''' | '''The Royal Collection Trust''' | ||
The Royal Collection does not receive public subsidy or | The Royal Collection does not receive public subsidy or government funding, but is administered by the Royal Collection Trust. It was founded by the Queen in 1993 as a registered charity under the chairmanship of the [[Prince Charles|Prince of Wales]]. | ||
The Trust’s role is not only to ensure the proper custodial control of the Collection but also to guarantee the conservation and maintenance to the highest standards. Another aim is to display to the public as much of the Collection as possible. | The Trust’s role is not only to ensure the proper custodial control of the Collection but also to guarantee the conservation and maintenance to the highest standards. Another aim is to display to the public as much of the Collection as possible. | ||
Revision as of 13:26, 31 May 2010
The art collection of the British Royal Family. Although it is property of the monarch as sovereign, the Queen does not own it as private individual. The Royal Collection is held in trust for the Queen’s successors and the British nation. Housing several thousand pieces of art, the Royal Collection may be regarded as one of the world’s greatest art collections. The present collection does not only include fine art, such as paintings, drawings and sculpture. Large parts of the stock consist of decorative art. Jewellery, ceramics, clocks and silver belong to the collection as well as books, manuscripts, prints and maps, armour and various textiles.
The Royal Collection is on display at several locations including royal palaces and residences such as Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace, all of which are open to the public. On the one hand the works of art may be seen in their historic setting, on the other hand it is possible to discover them in the purpose-built Queen’s Galleries. The latter offer a changing programme of special exhibitions. In order to exhibit as many pieces of art and broaden public access, over 3,000 objects from the Royal Collection are on long-term loan to galleries and museums around the UK and abroad.
Although some surviving items belong to earlier monarchs such as Henry VIII, the Royal Collection has largely been formed since the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660. Unlike museum collections the Royal Collection developed out of personal interests and acquisitive instincts. Within the last 500 years the personal tastes of British queens and kings had a lasting effect on the Royal Collection. Some of the most important additions were given to the collection by Charles I who was not only a passionate collector of Old Masters but a keen patron of contemporary artists like Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck. Especially during his reign the quality and quantity of the purchased pictures established the Collection’s high status. Another landmark is the acquisition of the Öttingen-Wallerstein collection of early Italian, German and Flemish pictures under Queen Victoria. The various pieces of art entered the Collection either by means of purchase or exchange, confiscation or as (diplomatic) gifts.
The Royal Collection Trust
The Royal Collection does not receive public subsidy or government funding, but is administered by the Royal Collection Trust. It was founded by the Queen in 1993 as a registered charity under the chairmanship of the Prince of Wales. The Trust’s role is not only to ensure the proper custodial control of the Collection but also to guarantee the conservation and maintenance to the highest standards. Another aim is to display to the public as much of the Collection as possible.
References