Screen LibraryKensington Palace : art, architecture and society /
"Kensington Palace is renowned for its architecture, historic interiors, internationally important collections and its many royal residents over 300 years. This first comprehensive study of Kensington explores the palace's rich material and cultural history, alongside its unique human stor...
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| Group Author: | ; |
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Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art by Yale University Press, in association with Historic Royal Palaces,
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| Publisher Address: | New Haven, CT : |
| Publication Dates: | [2018] |
| Literature type: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects: | |
| Summary: |
"Kensington Palace is renowned for its architecture, historic interiors, internationally important collections and its many royal residents over 300 years. This first comprehensive study of Kensington explores the palace's rich material and cultural history, alongside its unique human stories, presenting extensive new research drawn from archives, newspapers, letters, images, and new analysis of the building itself. Originally a fashionable Jacobean villa, Kensington was dramatically rebuilt from 1689 by Christopher Wren for the newly crowned monarchs, William III and Mary II. The palace became a favourite home of five sovereigns, yet also survived fires, partial collapse, bombings and periods of neglect. Queen Victoria recognised the national significance of her birthplace and childhood home, turning the palace into her own memorial as well as a home for members of her extended family and their descendants. With 450 illustrations, including specially commissioned reconstructions and historic plans, this volume explores British and European royal taste and fashions over three centuries. Kensington Palace provides a new and illuminating social and architectural history of one of Britain's most important royal buildings"--Front jacket flap. Kensington Palace is renowned for its architecture, splendid interiors, internationally important collections, and, of course, its royal residents. This lavish book thoroughly explores Kensington's physical beauty and its history, presenting new material drawn from archives, newspapers, personal letters, images, and careful analysis of the building itself. Originally a fashionable Jacobean villa, Kensington was dramatically rebuilt in 1689 by Christopher Wren for the newly crowned monarchs, William III and Mary II. The palace became the favored London home of five sovereigns, surviving fires, partial collapse, bombings, and periods of neglect. Queen Victoria recognized its national significance and set about restyling the massive structure with some of England's greatest architects and artists. With over 450 illustrations, including specially commissioned reconstructions and historic plans, this volume explores the personal tastes and fashions of the British monarchy over the course of 300 years and provides insight into the 20th- and 21st-century royal family's domestic life. |
| Item Description: | Illustrations on lining-papers. |
| Carrier Form: | xiv, 392 pages : illustrations (some color), maps (some color), portraits (some color), plans (some color), facsimiles ; 30 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 343-373) and index. |
| ISBN: |
9780300236538 0300236530 |
| Index Number: | NA7746 |
| CLC: | TU-095.61 |
| Call Number: | TU-095.61/B735 |
| Contents: |
Foreword / Acknowledgements -- Introduction / Kensington before the palace. Kensington before 1600 / The making of a London suburb / A royal home. 'A patch'd building, but ... a very sweet villa' : Sir Christopher Wren and the building of Kensington / 'Very noble, tho' not greate' : the making of a new court for William, Mary and Anne / 'All the elegancies of art' : the baroque garden / Georgian Kensington. George I at Kensington : from personal rule to parliamentary politics / The hub of fashionable society / 'The good air, the gardens and the fine prospect' : Kensington's landscape gardens / 'For his Majesties service' : the household below stairs, 1689-1760 / The aunt heap. Apartments for the royal family : 1790-1848 / 'I like this poor Palace' : Victoria's childhood / 'Kensingtonians to the core' : the palace community, 1860-1940 / Public attraction and private home. Neglect and restoration : the state apartments and gardens, 1760-1899 / Modern royals at home / 'A pleasing contrast of intimacy and stateliness' : Kensington as a heritage attraction / Calendar of royal household removes. |