George IV: Art and Spectacle

George IV was arguably the most magnificent of British monarchs. By the time George ascended to the throne in 1820 after nine years as Prince Regent, he was already well-known for his extravagant lifestyle. Visual display played an important role in his public image, an image that he worked hard to control. Through the spectacular interiors of his houses and palaces, numerous flattering portraits, carefully choreographed state occasions, and his fashion choices, George IV attempted to shape public perception of his person as heir to the throne and as king.

George was the collector and commissioner of many of the finest works of art in the Royal Collection. He also turned Buckingham House into a Palace, radically remodeled Windsor Castle inside and out, and built the Royal Pavilion at Brighton, an oriental-style pleasure palace by the sea. In London, his architectural vision extended to the design of Regent Street and Regent’s Park. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, and a period of unprecedented global exploration, this book considers the monarch’s public image, taste for the theatrical and exotic, admiration of French style, and all-consuming passion for collecting. George IV: Art & Spectacle is published to accompany a major exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, timed to coincide with the bicentenary of George IV’s accession to the throne. This volume offers a long-overdue reappraisal of one of the most important figures in the formation of the Royal Collection.

Kate Heard is senior curator of prints and drawings at Royal Collection Trust. Her previous books include The First Georgians: Art & Monarchy 1714–1760, Maria Merian’s Butterflies, and High Spirits: The Comic Art of Thomas Rowlandson.

Kathryn Jones is senior curator of decorative arts at Royal Collection Trust. Her previous books include The First Georgians: Art & Monarchy 1714-1760, European Silver in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen, and For the Royal Table: Dining at the Palace.