Painting Parliament: the Fine Arts Commission 1841-1863
Small display at the National Portrait Gallery looking at the Fine Arts Commission which was set up to oversee the interior design of the new Houses of Parliament in 1841. I was interested in the idea of setting up a national school of history painting favouring frescos as I love the Italian Renaissance frescos. I was amused that Price Albert commissioned frescos for his summer houses so the artists could practice techniques. However I learnt far more from the commentary than the pictures which were just pictures of those involved. It was also hard to find the main group portrait it kept referring to as it was in another room. Why not move it to the display for a short period?