Since 1985, 43 artists have visited 95 countries and produced 300 paintings for the personal collection of the King—but it hasn't always been smooth sailing.
This summer, visitors to the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace will see a special exhibition, The King’s Tour Artists, featuring over 70 works of art from His Majesty’s own collection, many on public display for the first time.
As I made my way through the throng of visitors to the King’s Gallery for its opulent new exhibition, I overheard a woman observe: ‘Well, one thing you can say about the Royals is they never do anything by halves.’
Featuring Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo and others, a show at the King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace highlights the period’s works on paper—which, though frequently preparatory, stand as works of art in their own right.
Black art moved centre stage, sculpture couldn’t keep still, Francis Alÿs captured the power of child’s play – but the year belonged to Van Gogh