Victoria's Regencies
  • Welcome
  • About Me
  • News and Events
  • Victoria's Vibes -- a blog
  • My Books
    • An Ideal Match
    • Ask Jane
    • Cordelia's Corinthian
    • Miss Milford's Mistake
    • Miss Parker's Ponies
    • The Eligible Miss Elliott
    • The Fontainebleau Fan
    • The Tables Turned
    • BirthRights: a Dangerous Brew, Chapter One

Another London Yearning

3/14/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
As the days lengthen, my thoughts turn to travel, but I'm afraid I won't get across the pond in time to catch this wonderful exhibition George IV: Art and Spectacle in the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace, which closes on May 3, 2020.
Picture
Above, George IV, When Prince of Wales, 1791 by artist George Stubbs.
​     The description of the exhibition says, "
George IV is arguably the most magnificent British monarch ever recorded and he formed an unrivalled collection of art, much of which remains in the Royal Collection. Bringing together Dutch and Flemish masterpieces, portraits by Sir Thomas Lawrence and Sir Joshua Reynolds, delicate French porcelain, intricate goldsmiths’ work and elegant books and drawings, this exhibition will present George’s life through the art that enriched his world."
Picture
Among George's many projects was a series of paintings of representatives of the Allies in the 1815 victory at Waterloo executed by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830), the finest portraitist of his day. Above, l-r: John, Count Capo d'Istria (1776-1831); Ercole, Cardinal Consalvi (1757-1824); Charles, Archduke of Austria (1771-1847); Pope PiusVII (1742-1831);  Clemens Lothar Wenzel, Prince Metternich (1773-1859).  When not on exhibition elsewhere, these hang in the Waterloo Gallery in Windsor Castle.
Picture
George IV was self-indulgent and a spendthrift, disliked by the people for the treatment of his family and for his excessive spending on architectural projects and his vast art collection, including paintings and sculpture, furniture, silver and ceramics, weapons and heraldic regalia, jewelry and clothing, even books. Below, a first edition of Jane Austen's Emma. By the Prince Regent's request, Miss Austen dedicated the book to him when it was published in 1816 in three volumes. 
Picture
Below, the Shield of Achilles, part of a large collection of tableware and serving pieces designed by John Flaxman and created by Philip Rundle of the London goldsmith firm of Rundle, Bridge and Rundle in 1821.
Picture
In addition to the huge number of works he commissioned and/or purchased, George IV will be found in the often biting caricatures so popular in his time. Below, a typical example by Robert Seymour, The Great Joss and his Playthings, c. 1829. As in all the images above, From the Royal Collection Trust, 
 (c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019.
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Victoria Hinshaw, Author


    Here I will share some of my articles on favorite topics, such as English Country Houses, the Regency Royals, Jane Austen, and the like. Some of these articles have been published elsewhere, probably on the blog I share with Kristine Hughes and Louisa
    ​Cornell:  numberonelondon.net

    Archives

    March 2025
    November 2024
    October 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    June 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    June 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Photo from amandabhslater