British Baroque: Power & Illusion exhibition book

This exhibition catalogue presents a fresh and visually breath-taking new look at the art of the late Stuart period in Britain (1660–1714).

From the Restoration of Charles II in 1660 to the death of Queen Anne in 1714, the late Stuart period was a time of great change for Britain, and a rich, sophisticated, but largely overlooked era of art history. This exhibition book, created to accompany Tate Britain’s 2020 exhibition British Baroque: Power & Illusion, explores how art and architecture were used by the crown, the church, and the aristocracy to project images of status in an age when the power of the monarchy was being questioned.

Featuring the work of the leading painters of the day—including Peter Lely, Godfrey Kneller, and James Thornhill—it celebrates ambitious grand-scale portraits, the persuasive illusion of mural painting, the brilliant woodcarving of Grinling Gibbons, and the magnificent architecture of the great buildings of the age by Christopher Wren, Nicholas Hawksmoor, and John Vanbrugh.

With contributions by Tabitha Barber, Tim Batchelor, Lydia Hamlett, Anthony Geraghty, Dr James Legard, Amy Lim and David Taylor, the book features explanatory texts and fresh approaches to each of the nine sections of the exhibition:

Monarchy Restored

The Restoration Court

Art and Religion

Illusion and Deception

Palaces and Country Mansions

Baroque Murals

The Beauty Room

Triumph and Glory

The Age of Politics

Tabitha Barber is Curator, British Art 1550-1750 at Tate.

Tim Bachelor is Assistant Curator, British Art 1550-1750 at Tate.

• Exhibition British Baroque: Power & Illusion
• Dimensions 26. 5 x 21 cm
• ISBN 9781849766814
• Paperback Yes
• Number of illustrations 150
• No of pages 176