This lecture celebrates the 400th Anniversary of Charles I’s accession to the throne in 1625. 

Charles I was one of the greatest art collectors in Europe. During his reign he not only amassed an unparalleled collection of works by Renaissance masters, he also commissioned works by some of the most important artists of the time such as Van Dyck, Rubens and Orazio Gentileschi. He was, however, not a successful monarch and after civil war and his beheading, his collection represented all that the Puritans hated about his reign.

In this talk we will look at how Charles acquired his impressive collection and the fate that awaited it under the Protectorate.