The Aristocratic Collection

Arundel Marbles - re-excavated in the Strand

The Duke of Buckingham, George Villiers

In the 12th Century the Bishop of Winchester brought back antiquities collections from Room

In the 15th Century the Duke of Gloucester amassed a library which formed the Bodleian Library in Oxford

With the Renaissance & Reformation the aristocrat replaced the Church as patron of the arts.

In Britain early collectors included: the Duke of Arundel who collected classical marbles.

The Duke of Buckingham had a great collection in York House. He employed a Curator (Balthazar Gerber) and John Tradescant as collector of curios from abroad.

King Charles I collected Titians, Caravaggios, Reubens etc.