This summer, visitors to the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace for the annual Summer Opening of the British monarch’s London residence will have a special Indian connection to look out for.
‘The King's Tour Artists’ exhibition will feature over 70 works of art from the British monarch’s own collection, many on public display for the first time, when his palace State Rooms open to the public in early July. Among them will be London-based artist Luke Martineau’s ‘Balsamand Palace’, the result of his invitation to join Charles – then the Prince of Wales – on a four-day royal tour to India for the opening of the Commonwealth Games in 2010.
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Martineau was invited to join a four-day royal tour to India in 2010, for the opening of the XIX Commonwealth Games. Keen not to miss opportunities, he carefully studied the itinerary to plan ahead, ensuring there was time to respond to scenes unfolding before him, such as the sunset on the lake next to ‘Balsamand Palace’ bathing it in Jodhpur’s warm light. He later noted that the trip formed a major inspiration for his future work.
For around 40 years since 1985, an artist has been personally selected and paid for by the King to accompany the travelling party on a royal overseas tour with the brief remaining largely unchanged throughout. Forty-two artists to have undertaken this role, who collectively have visited 95 countries during 69 tours, will be represented in the exhibition.
Kate Heard, curator of ‘The King’s Tour Artists’ said: “This fascinating group of works tells the story of forty years of official travel and artistic patronage. The freedom given to each artist to capture a personal impression of the countries visited has led to the formation of a rich and varied collection.
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“Encompassing landscapes, figure studies and still life subjects, these works are testament to His Majesty’s deep engagement with and encouragement of artists over the past four decades.”
An accompanying publication, ‘The Art of Royal Travel: Journeys with The King’, will further explore and celebrate this special royal tradition. Featuring recollections from the artists and over 100 illustrations, it tells the behind-the-scenes stories of the tours from an unrivalled perspective.