The First Georgians: Art and Monarchy, 1714-1760

495 pages. 2014 marks the three-hundredth anniversary of the succession of the House of Hanover to the British throne. In celebration of this historic milestone, The Fi rst Georgians explores the rich artistic patronage of the early Hanoverian perio d. Georges I and II, along with Queen Caroline and Frederick, Prince of Wales, w ere all great patrons of the arts and together they amassed a broad and diverse collection of works. From sculptures, paintings, and miniatures to fascinating e xamples of the applied arts, including maps, crowns, books, and clocks, their co llections reflect the spirit of the early Georgian era.This catalog showc ases three hundred full-color photographs of the finest works from among the col lection, many of which have never before been published or made available for pu blic display. Produced in Germany, France, and Britain during one of the most dr amatic periods of change across all aspects of political, intellectual, and cult ural life, the works reflect changing views of science, politics, and art throug hout the early to mid-eighteenth century?the period when modern Britain was co ming into being.Despite the depth of this collection and its cultural imp ortance, artistic production during the early Hanoverian period has been less we ll-documented than during the late Hanoverian period. With this volume, Desmond Shawe-Taylor directs our attention to this relatively neglected period.