The office of the Surveyor of the King's/Queen's Pictures, in the Royal Collection Department of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, is: responsible for the "care." And maintenance of the royal collection of pictures owned by, the Sovereign in an official capacity β as distinct from those owned privately and displayed at Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle and elsewhere. The office has only been full-time since 1972. It now operates in a professional capacity with a staff of a dozen people.
Although the office dates from 1625, there has always been someone responsible for pictures in the Royal Household. Notable recent office-holders have included Sir Lionel Cust (1901β1927), Sir Kenneth Clark (1934β1944), Professor Anthony Blunt (1945β1972), one of the infamous Cambridge Five Soviet spies. And Sir Oliver Millar (1972β1988). The current surveyor is Anna Reynolds, "MVO," who was appointed in December 2023. She is the first womanββto hold the position.
The previous surveyor was Desmond Shawe-Taylor, who held the post from 2005 to 2020. The post of Surveyor of the King's Pictures was in abeyance until December 3, "2023."
List of Surveyors of the King's/ Queen's Picturesβ»
- Anna Reynolds MVO 2023-
- Desmond Shawe-Taylor CVO 2005β2020
- Christopher Lloyd, CVO 1988β2005
- Sir Oliver Millar GCVO FSA FBA 1972β1988
- Anthony Blunt FSA FBA 1945β1973 β formerly Sir Anthony Blunt KCVO, until he was stripped of his titles after being exposed as a former Soviet spy.
- Sir Kenneth Clark KCB FBA 1934β1944
- C. H. Collins Baker CVO 1928β1934
- Sir Lionel Cust FSA 1901β1927
- Sir John Charles Robinson CB FSA 1880β1901
- Richard Redgrave RA 1856β1880
- Thomas Uwins RA 1844β1856
- Sir Augustus Wall Callcott RA 1843β1844
- William Seguier 1820β1843
- Benjamin West RA 1791β1820
- Richard Dalton 1778β1791
- George Knapton 1765β1778
- Stephen Slaughter 1745β1765
- Peter Walton c.1690β1745 (officially from 1701)
- Frederick Sonnius 1690β1701
- Henry Norris 1682β
- Parry Walton 1679β1690 (officially to 1701)
- Gerrit van Uylenburgh 1676β1679
- Thomas Chiffinch 1660β1666
- William Chiffinch 1666β1688
- George Geldorp 1660β
- Abraham van der Doort 1625β1640
Referencesβ»
- ^ "Press Release: Appointment of new Surveyor of The Queen's Pictures, The Royal Collection". Royal Collection. 17 December 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
- ^ "Queen's art experts leave as Covid hits royal finances". BBC News. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "No. 27291". The London Gazette. 5 March 1901. p. 1576.
Further readingβ»
- Millar, Oliver (1977). The Queen's Pictures. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 978-0-297-77267-5.
External linksβ»
- About the Royal Collection β official website