The art collection at Hampton Court Palace has two principal categories: topographical artwork and portraiture.
Many works of art are on display to visitors. The works of art collection includes prints, watercolours, pen and ink drawings, a small number of oil paintings, photographs and a few works in other media.
Subjects include landscape views of palaces and gardens, historic scenes set within palace interiors, and royalty and courtiers associated with palaces.
The Cumberland Art GalleryDownload the Historic Royal Palaces podcast and join Andrew Graham-Dixon in a panel discussion analysing the lives of iconic artists Rembrandt, Van Dyck and Caravaggio. This podcast is a recording of a ticketed event called 'Meet the masters', which was held ahead of the opening of the Cumberland Art Gallery. This free podcast was first made available on iTunes in December 2014.
'Meet the masters' on iTunesThe diverse nature of the objects in our collection reflects the fact that the palaces have been lived in or constantly used for over 1000 years. Some of the objects in the decorative arts and social history collection have been acquired to furnish rooms to improve visitors' understanding of life in the palaces. Many have also been acquired to tell the stories of the people that lived in the palaces. A few of the objects have been left behind by former residents. A good example are the items from Apartment 23 at Hampton Court Palace which belonged to Lady Manning who occupied that apartment from 1935 to 1992. They form the core of an internationally significant collection of social history objects.
During the reign of King George III, Queen Charlotte focussed her time and energy into their humble home of Kew Palace. This portable fringe making machine, or fringe loom, epitomises Charlotte's life at the palace.
Palace upkeep is expensive work and as an independent charity we receive no funding from the Government or the Crown. We depend on our visitors, members, donors, volunteers and sponsors to help us.
Support usDiscover masterpieces by Rembrandt, Holbein, van Dyck, and many more when you visit the Cumberland Art Gallery at Hampton Court Palace.
Open daily
Marvel at Sir Peter Paul Rubens' masterpiece in its original setting. Rubens' ceiling canvases are the crowning glory of Inigo Jone's Banqueting House.
Open daily
One of the most famous collections of paintings in the history of European art, The Triumphs of Caesar remains on permanent display in the Mantegna Gallery at Hampton Court Palace.
Open daily
This Hampton Court Palace decoration showcases the beautiful architecture of the palace and makes a regal addition to any tree.
£29.99
This Hampton Court Palace enamel box has been hand painted and shows Henry VIII's favourite palace in all of its glory.
£145.00
Written by Lucy Worsley, Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, this book explores Hampton Court Palace's rich history.
£19.95