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.
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."
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
(c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019.
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