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News Item: 00058
5th Jun 2008
Tate Britain campaign to keep Rubens
Source: http://www.tate.org.uk
Speaking about the sketch, David Starkey said: "This work is of the utmost significance to British history. The Banqueting House with its stunning Rubens ceiling is all that remains of the original Whitehall Palace after it was destroyed by fire in 1698. The ceiling was originally commissioned by James I of England and VI of Scotland to celebrate his achievement in bringing about the peaceful union of Scotland and England with his accession to the English throne after the death of Elizabeth I. The Banqueting House ceiling is the most important painting set within an architectural context in England and this sketch is the key to its composition. The loss of the sketch would be a fundamental betrayal of our national heritage and it is inconceivable that it move from Britain." In March Tate Britain, together with leading art charity The Art Fund, announced that it was actively seeking support to raise £6 million to save the The Apotheosis of James I: Multiple Sketch for the Banqueting House Ceiling (1628-30). The large-scale oil sketch, valued at £11m, has been owned by a private collection in England for over two hundred years and is offered to Tate for £6m net of special tax concessions. Tate has so far secured over £1.56m towards acquiring the sketch. Stephen Deuchar, Director of Tate Britain said: "Rubens's impact on British art, not least through his pupil Anthony Van Dyck, was profound, and the sketch for the Banqueting House ceiling celebrating the union of England and Scotland is an icon of British history as well as a very beautiful work of art. This sketch, which represents Rubens's first visualisation of the project, allows us into the mind's eye of one of the greatest artists working anywhere at the time and shows the earliest stage of his creative process. There could simply be no better place than Tate Britain to explore its national importance and recognise its truly memorable contribution to British art history. It will take its place in our galleries - a crucial place - as a key work in the rich narrative of British art at Tate Britain." The Banqueting House was designed by Inigo Jones and constructed between 1619 and 1622. A commission for ceiling paintings was first apparently discussed with Rubens by James I (1603-25) and his advisers. James's son and successor Charles I (1625-49) commissioned the paintings while Rubens was in London between 1629-30 acting as a diplomat working for peace between Spain and England. In 16th and 17th century England the principal court artists were rarely British born - the majority came from the Netherlands, and many, like Rubens, were from the city of Antwerp. The Apotheosis of James I: Multiple Sketch for the Banqueting House Ceiling shows the first visualisation for seven of the nine finished ceiling canvases with The Apotheosis of James I as the largest and most important in the centre of the sketch. Having brought union, peace and plenty to Britain James I is seen ascending to heaven. The eventual nine canvasses were painted in Rubens's Antwerp studio and sent to London, where they were installed around mid-March 1636. Charles I was a great patron of the arts. It was under this magnificent cycle of paintings that Charles I was to be led just moments before he was executed on scaffolding set against the wall of the Banqueting House on 30th January 1649. The Apotheosis of James I: Multiple Sketch for the Banqueting House Ceiling is currently on display at Tate Britain until 31st July. Tate Britain, Millbank, London, SW1P 4RG |
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