The extravagant glories of Charles II

In Art and history, Travels and events by Roger Thomas

In April, I went to the Queen’s Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace in London to see the Charles II: Art and Power exhibition.

I knew that the legendary painting collection assembled by his father, Charles I, before his execution, and by his mother, Henrietta Maria, before her exile, had been largely reassembled for the occasion of an exhibition at the Royal Academy. So I didn’t quite know what to expect from this particular gathering of goodies by a gentleman known to be of Britain’s most famously licentious monarchs.

What I found was the most extravagant use ever in fashion of passementerie, ribbons and jewels!

And some of the most beautifully painted textiles in all of history.

Glorious!

 

 

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