Museums of the World: Buckingham Palace to showcase masterpieces from its collection

The Buckingham Palace art collection will be showcased to the general public for the first time in 200 years.

It will present works by Vermeer, Canaletto, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian and other painters stored in the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. The Guardian newspaper informs that among the most interesting works are Vermeer's "Music Lesson" and Rembrandt's "Shipbuilder and His Wife". The latter is one of the favourite paintings of Queen Elizabeth II. The exhibition will feature a total of 65 pictures. Because of the major renovation of the palace building, the exposition will be located in its western wing - the Royal Gallery.

About half of the collection was obtained by George IV, who was fond of art. In the 1820s, he commissioned the architect John Nash to rebuilt the Buckingham Palace into the chief royal residence. The reconstruction plan included the creation of an art gallery to showcase the collection.

The exhibition "Masterpieces of Buckingham Palace" will run from December 4, 2020, to January 2022.