Research Catalog

Title

Kensington Palace : art, architecture and society / Tracy Borman, Sebastian Edwards, Olivia Fryman, Joanna Marschner, Deirdre Murphy, Lee Prosser ; edited by Olivia Fryman ; with a foreword by David Starkey.

Author

Borman, Tracy

Publication

New Haven [Connecticut] ; London : Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art by Yale University Press, in association with Historic Royal Palaces, [2018]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xvi, 392 pages : illustrations (some color); 30 cm

Summary

• "Kensington Palace is renowned for its architecture, historic interiors, internationally important collections and its many royal residents over 300 years. This first comprehensive study of Kensington explores the palace's rich material and cultural history, alongside its unique human stories, presenting extensive new research drawn from archives, newspapers, letters, images, and new analysis of the building itself. Originally a fashionable Jacobean villa, Kensington was dramatically rebuilt from 1689 by Christopher Wren for the newly crowned monarchs, William III and Mary II. The palace became a favourite home of five sovereigns, yet also survived fires, partial collapse, bombings and periods of neglect. Queen Victoria recognised the national significance of her birthplace and childhood home, turning the palace into her own memorial as well as a home for members of her extended family and their descendants. With 450 illustrations, including specially commissioned reconstructions and historic plans, this volume explores British and European royal taste and fashions over three centuries. Kensington Palace provides a new and illuminating social and architectural history of one of Britain's most important royal buildings"--Front jacket flap.
• Kensington Palace is renowned for its architecture, splendid interiors, internationally important collections, and, of course, its royal residents. This lavish book thoroughly explores Kensington's physical beauty and its history, presenting new material drawn from archives, newspapers, personal letters, images, and careful analysis of the building itself. Originally a fashionable Jacobean villa, Kensington was dramatically rebuilt in 1689 by Christopher Wren for the newly crowned monarchs, William III and Mary II. The palace became the favored London home of five sovereigns, surviving fires, partial collapse, bombings, and periods of neglect. Queen Victoria recognized its national significance and set about restyling the massive structure with some of England's greatest architects and artists. With over 450 illustrations, including specially commissioned reconstructions and historic plans, this volume explores the personal tastes and fashions of the British monarchy over the course of 300 years and provides insight into the 20th- and 21st-century royal family's domestic life.

Subject

• Kensington Palace (London, England) > History
• Kensington Palace (London, England)
• Buildings
• London (England) > Buildings, structures, etc
• England > London

Genre/Form

History.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages 343-373) and index.

Contents

Foreword / David Starkey -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction / Olivia Fryman & Tracy Borman -- Part 1 : Kensington before the palace. Kensington before 1600 / Lee Prosser ; The making of a London suburb / Olivia Fryman -- Part 2 : A royal home. 'A patch'd building, but ... a very sweet villa' : Sir Christopher Wren and the building of Kensington / Lee Prosser ; 'Very noble, tho' not greate' : the making of a new court for William, Mary and Anne / Sebastian Edwards ; 'All the elegancies of art' : the baroque garden / Joanna Marschner -- Part 3 : Georgian Kensington. George I at Kensington : from personal rule to parliamentary politics / Sebastian Edwards ; The hub of fashionable society / Joanna Marschner & Deirdre Murphy ; 'The good air, the gardens and the fine prospect' : Kensington's landscape gardens / Joanna Marschner ; 'For his Majesties service' : the household below stairs, 1689-1760 / Olivia Fryman -- Part 4 : The aunt heap. Apartments for the royal family : 1790-1848 / Lee Prosser ; 'I like this poor Palace' : Victoria's childhood / Deirdre Murphy ; 'Kensingtonians to the core' : the palace community, 1860-1940 / Deirdre Murphy -- Part 5 : Public attraction and private home. Neglect and restoration : the state apartments and gardens, 1760-1899 / Deirdre Murphy & Lee Prosser ; Modern royals at home / Olivia Fryman ; 'A pleasing contrast of intimacy and stateliness' : Kensington as a heritage attraction / Olivia Fryman -- Appendix : Calendar of royal household removes.

Call Number

JFG 19-442

ISBN

• 9780300236538
• 0300236530

LCCN

• 2018942941
• 40028659885

OCLC

1065732962

Author

Borman, Tracy, author.

Title

Kensington Palace : art, architecture and society / Tracy Borman, Sebastian Edwards, Olivia Fryman, Joanna Marschner, Deirdre Murphy, Lee Prosser ; edited by Olivia Fryman ; with a foreword by David Starkey.

Publisher

New Haven [Connecticut] ; London : Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art by Yale University Press, in association with Historic Royal Palaces, [2018]

Type of Content

text

still image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 343-373) and index.

Other Standard Identifier

40028659885

Research Call Number

JFG 19-442