Celebrating the Platinum Jubilee in Seven Paintings

Fun online talk from the National Gallery to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Matthew Morgan looked at a picture that was acquired by the gallery in each decade of the Queen’s reign emphasising that she didn’t influence their acquisition and they don’t reflect her taste but is was just a fun way of looking at some of the collection.

He covered works from 1570 until 1910 and actually looking at this list you can see how tastes have changed from collecting the obvious available works to choosing works which fill gaps in the collection.

He talked us though each picture saying a bit about why it was painted and looking at some of the details. He told us stories about the acquisition in a few cases and I’d have liked to know a bit more about how they were acquired.

I thought you might be interested to see the list. Obviously, these weren’t the only works acquired just a selection.

1950s

Mr and Mrs William Hallett (The Morning Walk) by Thomas Gainsborough 1795 acquired in 1954

1960s

Portrait of the Duke of Wellington by Goya 1812-14 acquired in 1961

1970s

The Thames Below Westminster by Money 1871 acquired in 1971

1980s

Perseus Turning Phineas and his Followers to Stone by Luca Giordono from about 1660 acquired in 1983

1990s

Vanitas Still-Life by Jan Jansz Treck 1648 acquired in 1991

2000s

The Four Elements : Air by Joachim Beuckelear 1570 acquired 2001

2010s

The Drunkard, Zarauz by Joaquin Sorolla 1910 acquired in 2019

 

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