World culture: Exhibition “Golden Age” of the English court: from Henry VIII to Charles I” in the Moscow Kremlin

The exhibition "The Golden Age" of the English court: from Henry VIII to Charles I» is opening in Moscow Kremlin on October 24, 2012.

The exhibition is dedicated to the brilliant period in the history of England – the era of Tudor and early Stuart, who played a crucial role in the development of English nationhood, culture and national identity. This era is considered to be "the golden age" of English culture.

The chronological frameworks of the exhibition include the XVI - the first half of the XVII century, the period when the Renaissance courtyard, formed under Henry VII and Henry VIII Tudor, has become one of the main centers of culture. Its versatile and intense cultural life reached its golden age during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and finally gained its mature form under James I and Charles I Stuart. Formal portraits of these remarkable monarchs are worthy decoration of the exhibition in Moscow Kremlin Museums.

The exhibition features masterpieces from the collection of court art Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Collection, the Royal Armory, the Museum of London, National Portrait Gallery, the National Maritime Museum (Greenwich), the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Honorable Company of gunsmiths and coppersmiths, and private collections.

The heraldic sculpture, ceremonial silver, jewelry, antique clocks, ceremonial vessels, elements of interior decoration are among them.

The great interest in the exhibition presents examples of weapons and firearms, as well as ceremonial armor, quality and exquisite decor which were designed to show the strength and power of their owners. In this case, a special attention should pay to Greenwich armor of 1540, belonged to King Henry VIII, granted to courtesy of the Royal Collection with the consent of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain.

Visitors are invited to get acquainted with the unique collection of English portrait of miniatures of XVI-XVII centuries – an unusually attractive lyrical portrait by royal top artists, among which a special place takes Nicholas Hilliard - Illustrious master of the miniature of Elizabethan era.

There are also a tapestry, embroidery, objects of male and female dress, accessories, art prints, rare prints essays court poets and playwrights, including first editions of Shakespeare's so-called "First Folio".