Gathered over the centuries by successive British monarchs, the Royal Collection is extensive and unique. The 7,000 paintings that hang in the royal palaces and residences constitute a visual record of the tastes of patrons from Henry VIII to Queen Victoria. Christopher Lloyd moves away from a traditional chronological account of the growth of the Collection and adopts a more wide-ranging, thematic approach to the pictures. After describing the part played in the Collection's formation by the three great connoisseur sovereigns Charles I, George IV, and Queen Victoria (under the guidance of Prince Albert), he looks at the art from widely different angles. Topics include the effect of the Reformation on painting in England and the importance of the Grand Tour; animal and landscape painting; international relations, diplomacy, and warfare; informal portraits of monarchs and their families; and large-scale ceremonial images. -- amazon.com
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