A luxurious visual guide to the past 500 years of the British monarchy
Public image has been a concern of every monarch since the dawn of visual culture, and depictions of rulers have consistently appeared through art history's various mediums. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the National Portrait Gallery, London's stunning collection of British royal portraiture. Through a continuous chronology spanning 500 years, from Henry VIII to Charles III, discover how kings and queens have positioned themselves to create images infused with strength, domesticity and love. Familiar pop culture subjects like Queen Charlotte and Princess Diana take their places among lesser-known figures of the British crown. Works are accompanied by captions that detail reigns, relationships, biographies and legacies. An introduction by curator Rab MacGibbon explains the history of the British royal family and its role in today's society. The Royals is the newest addition to the National Portrait Gallery's collection of books on British royalty.
The reign of Elizabeth I (1558 - 1603) saw outstanding successes in the fields of maritime exploration and defence, as well as expansion in trade and industry, a rise in social mobility, urbanisation and the development of an extraordinary literary culture. This postcard wallet brings together portraits of the Queen herself, as well as courtiers and other key figures of the Elizabethan period from the Collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London
