Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits

Queen Elizabeth I (The ‘Ditchley’ portrait) By Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, c.1592 (detail) © National Portrait Gallery, LondonFeaturing more than 150 treasures from London’s revered National Portrait Gallery, many of which have never before been seen outside the United Kingdom, Bendigo Art Gallery presents Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits, currently on display until 14 July 2019.

The exhibition traces the history of the British monarchy through the outstanding collection of London’s National Portrait Gallery, offering Australian audiences the extraordinary opportunity to come face-to-face with the fascinating figures of British royalty, and explore the story of Britain’s monarchy through masterworks of painting, sculpture and photography.

Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits explores five royal dynasties from the Tudors, the Stuarts, the Georgians, the Victorians to the Windsors, and highlights major events in British (and world) history from the sixteenth century to the present.

Works by some of the most prominent international artists from the past five centuries including Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, Lord Snowdon, Cecil Beaton, Andy Warhol, Chris Levine and Annie Leibovitz. Highlights include the official portraits of King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, King George III, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II, Diana Princess of Wales and Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.

The exhibition also includes carefully curated selection of artefacts and personal effects from some of Britain’s most significant collections, including the Historic Royal Palaces, the Fashion Museum in Bath and the Royal Armouries, which will be displayed alongside National Portrait Gallery royal portraits.

Highlights include a dress worn by Diana, Princes of Wales during her 1983 visit to Australia, together with George IV’s royal christening gown, the coronation gloves of Queen Elizabeth I (1558) and II (1953), and a J. Morena Manila embroidered evening dress worn by Princess Margaret in 1980.

Also on display will be a 1875 silk evening dress worn by Queen Victoria, a mourning brooch containing a lock of hair from Queen Mary II, and a wedding photograph of Prince Harry, His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex and Ms. Meghan Markle, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex by Alexi Lubomirski.


Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits
Bendigo Art Gallery, 42 View Street, Bendigo
Exhibition continues to 14 July 2019
Admission fees apply

For more information, visit: www.bendigoartgallery.com.au for details.

Image: Queen Elizabeth I (The ‘Ditchley’ portrait) By Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, c.1592 (detail) © National Portrait Gallery, London