Greatest Art Collection of Them All?

joe phelan · April 20th, 2006, 07:44 AM

There's a piece by Claire Higgens in the Guardian today about the British Royal Family's Art Collection. What's on view to the public in places like Buckingham Palace or Hampton Court is of "jaw dropping" quality: "here is one of the world's 34 or so Vermeers, a Rubens self-portrait (presented to Charles I as a sort of sales promotion), a Dürer portrait, bought by Charles I, and a Duccio triptych acquired by Prince Albert."

But that's only the tip of the iceberg behind the public display there are : "thousands of works ... [of] extraordinary old masters, including a handful of stunning Rembrandts (notably the 1633 Shipbuilder and his Wife) and stupendous Leonardo drawings. There are paintings by Poussin, Veronese and Claude, and sculptures by Canova. There are royal portraits by the dozen, including sumptuous Van Dycks. Of British artists there are Gainsboroughs, Reynoldses, Lelys, you name it."

January 23rd, 2011, 08:15 PM

The Royal Collection is certainly one of the world's greatest collection and is the largest and most valuable still remaining in private hands ( not a museum). There are over 7000 paintings and the world largest collection of works by Leonardo Da Vinci ( drawings). The Louvre, the Hermitage have a larger collection and contains more masterpieces. However, keep in mind that these museums have been added to over the years via plunder ( Napolean ) and donations, the Royal Collection has been acquired through purchase and personal taste.

April 20th, 2006, 07:44 AM	#1
joe phelan Editor Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2	Greatest Art Collection of Them All? There's a piece by Claire Higgens in the Guardian today about the British Royal Family's Art Collection. What's on view to the public in places like Buckingham Palace or Hampton Court is of "jaw dropping" quality: "here is one of the world's 34 or so Vermeers, a Rubens self-portrait (presented to Charles I as a sort of sales promotion), a Dürer portrait, bought by Charles I, and a Duccio triptych acquired by Prince Albert." But that's only the tip of the iceberg behind the public display there are : "thousands of works ... [of] extraordinary old masters, including a handful of stunning Rembrandts (notably the 1633 Shipbuilder and his Wife) and stupendous Leonardo drawings. There are paintings by Poussin, Veronese and Claude, and sculptures by Canova. There are royal portraits by the dozen, including sumptuous Van Dycks. Of British artists there are Gainsboroughs, Reynoldses, Lelys, you name it."

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January 23rd, 2011, 08:15 PM	#2
Unregistered Posts: n/a	The Royal Collection is certainly one of the world's greatest collection and is the largest and most valuable still remaining in private hands ( not a museum). There are over 7000 paintings and the world largest collection of works by Leonardo Da Vinci ( drawings). The Louvre, the Hermitage have a larger collection and contains more masterpieces. However, keep in mind that these museums have been added to over the years via plunder ( Napolean ) and donations, the Royal Collection has been acquired through purchase and personal taste.