Virtual Library
Take a moment to explore some of our most distinguished projects
To Catch a King: Holbein, Hever Castle & Anne Boleyn
Presented by Dr. David Starkey, CBE
Highly acclaimed Tudor scholar, author and historian Dr. David Starkey CBE, presented "To Catch a King: Holbein, Hever Castle & Anne Boleyn" to the American Friends of British Art in Palm Beach on March 13, 2024. In his presentation, Dr. Starkey weaves together the complexities of the courtship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in what became one of the most tragic marriages in history. Watch the lecture and learn how both Holbein, and the setting of Hever Castle, play into the drama of their courtship and marriage. (Video compliments of Jeffrey Finegan.)
Survey of The Stuart Portraits, curated by Lady Townshend and Hugo Platt
In May 2023, American Friends of British Art visited the conservation studio of KSH Conservation LTD, to survey the ongoing conservation work of the Stuart Portraits, which belong in the collection of paintings at Raynham Hall. The paintings were only recently discovered and have since been attributed to Cornelius Johnson (Cornelis Janssens van Ceulen, 1593-1661).
The two paintings in this video are of the young daughters of Charles I; Princess Elizabeth and Princess Henrietta Anne, and are believed to have been a gift to the noble Townshend family from Charles II following his restoration to the throne. American Friends of British Art spearheaded the campaign to have these paintings conserved, which involves removal of old varnish, removal of over-paint, reconstruction of damaged areas, repairs to canvas, and stabilization of the paint layers to prevent further paint loss.
In this video, we are guided by Lady Townshend of Raynham Hall, and Hugo Platt, Senior Paintings Conservator at KSH Conservation LTD, located in Norfolk, England. Hugo Platt earned an MA in Art History from Edinburgh University and an MA in Fine Art from the City & Guilds of London Art School, with postgraduate education at the Courtauld Institute of Art at the University of London, and at the Limburg Conservation Institute in Maastricht. More information on the KSH Conservation studios can be found on their website here.
Conservation & Care, Curated by Sandra & Barbara Stella
In a visit to the Stella Art Conservation Studio in West Palm Beach, we learn about the complex world of art conservation and restoration, along with tips on how to properly maintain your own art collection whilst avoiding common mistakes that can prove damaging. Barbara Stella is the founder and Chief Art Conservator at Stella Art Conservation. Barbara holds an advanced degree in Fine Art Conservation from the Institute of Fine Arts and Restoration, at the Palazzo Spinelli in Florence, Italy. She has also studied at the Academy of Fine Arts and at the Liceo Artistico, in Ravenna, Italy. Visit Stella Art Conservation here