2016-2017
The Royals: the British Monarchy through Art and Architecture
Code: IS265
Category: Art
Level: 5
Credits: 15
Teaching Pattern
Week 1
2 x 2.5hrs
1 x 8hrs
1 x 20mins
Week 2
2 x 2.5hrs
1 x 8hrs
Week 3
2 x 2.5hrs
1 x 8hrs
Week 4
2 x 2.5hrs
1 x 5hrs
Seminar
Field Trip
Tutorial
*Total contact hours:
*in addition to the above formal teaching sessions you will be expected to do approximately 100 hours of
independent study over the 4 weeks.
*Additional Field Trip fee of £100.00
Outline
This module studies the role of the British monarchy as patrons of art and architecture, while also
providing a general historic overview of British royal history from the 16th to the 21st century.
British royal palaces have always been considered places of beauty and power. Filled with stunning
collections of art, they were showcases of interior design and court taste. The Royal Collection is
one of the richest and largest art collections in the world and was influenced heavily by French,
German and Far Eastern cultures.
Visiting some of the royal buildings and the art collections they contain is a crucial element of the
module. You will make several field trips to major royal palaces such as Kensington Palace,
Hampton Court, the Tower of London and the Royal Pavilion. You will receive a one year pass that
will give you unlimited access to the Historic Royal Palaces (visit www.hrp.org.uk).
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students will be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural and architectural history of English royal
palaces and their art collections (furniture, decorative objects, textiles, paintings)
Identify and explain aspects of British court taste and royal patronage, major royal
collectors and be able to put these into an historical context
Evaluate critically the use, function, presentation and interpretation of English royal
buildings through history.
Demonstrate the skills of observation and visual analysis based on object-oriented
module activities, such as site visits to historic buildings and galleries.
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SUMMER Session 1
Contacts
George Mind
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SUMMER Session 1
E-mail: [email protected]
P
Indicative Reading List
It is not necessary to buy the core reading and any required reading will be provided as photocopies or
electronically.
Core reading:
Evans, Mark (1998) Princes as Patrons: Art Collections of the Princes of Wales from the Renaissance to the
Present Day (Merrell Publishers Ltd)
Souden, David (2008) The Royal Palaces of London (Merrell Publishers Ltd)
Further recommended reading:
Beevers, D. (2010) The Royal Pavilion Brighton
De Bellaigue, G. (1991) Carlton House: The Past Glories of George IV's Palace (London: Buckingham Palace)
Gaillard, E. and Walter, M. (2011) A Taste for the Exotic. Orientalist Interiors
Impey, E. (2003), Kensington Palace: The Official Illustrated History (Merrell Publishers Ltd)
Jones, M. (2006) Set for a King: 200 Years of Gardening at the Royal Pavilion
Lloyd, C. (1991) The Queen's Pictures: Royal Collectors Through the Centuries (National Gallery)
Morley, J. (1984) The Making of the Royal Pavilion
Musson, J. (2005) How to Read a Country House
Robinson, J.M. (2008) The Regency Country House: From the Archives of Country Life
Smith, C.H., Buckingham Palace: Its Furniture, Decoration and History (London: Country Life, 1931).
Snodin, M.and John Styles, Design and the Decorative Arts – Georgian Britain 1714 -1837, (London: V&A
Publications, 2004).
Roberts, Hugh, For the King’s Pleasure. The Furnishing and Decoration of George IV’s Apartments at
Windsor Castle (London, Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd., 2004).
Robinson, J. M. (2003) Buckingham Palace: The Official Illustrated History
Roberts, J. (ed.), George III and Queen Charlotte. Patronage, Collecting and Court Taste (London, Royal
Collection Enterprises Ltd., 2001).
Roberts, J. (1987) Royal Artists: From Mary Queen of Scots to the Present Day (London: Grafton Books).
Tyack, G. (2012) John Nash: Architect of the Picturesque
Watkin, D. and Sir Robin Mackworth-Young, The Royal Interiors of Regency England (J.M. Dent and Sons Ltd,
1984).
Worsley, L. (2005) Hampton Court Palace: The Official Illustrated History (Merrell Publishers Ltd)
For general reference: http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/
University Library
The Library,
University of Sussex,
Brighton
BN1 9QL
Phone: 01273 678163
[email protected]
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SUMMER Session 1