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by David Cannadine (Introduction by)
Portraits of British royalty, spanning 500 years of painting and photography
This publication explores five British royal dynasties, from the Tudors to the Windsors, drawing on the Collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London, which embraces over 500 years of British history. It includes paintings and photographs by many of the most important artists to have worked in Britain, from Peter Lely and Godfrey Kneller to Cecil Beaton and Dorothy Wilding.
A number of features on topics such as Royal Favorites, Royal Weddings, Satire, Royals at War and Royal Fashion provide insights into particular aspects of royal portraiture and trends within the genre. Tudors to Windsors also considers how each dynasty has been perceived and interpreted subsequently, with reference to popular culture and contemporary sources.
The publication includes a foreword by the Gallery's Director, a fully illustrated introductory essay discussing royal patronage and key artists in royal portraiture, and an essay by David Cannadine on the historical role of the monarchy in Britain.
