Thread by @UKParliament

Dr James Ford is the Assistant Curator in a small team caring for the Parliamentary Art Collection. He wrote his PhD on the art and architecture of the Houses of Parliament. James has worked in the Curator’s Office for seven years. #AskACurator

© UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

"What's the oldest object in the Parliamentary Art Collection?"

The statues of medieval kings in Westminster Hall. They were commissioned by King Richard II in 1385 as part of his remodelling of the Hall, which was originally completed in 1099 under King William II #AskACurator

I'm often asked what my favourite items in the collection are. So here's my top 3. What are yours? - James #AskACurator

Working under the architect Charles Barry, Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin was responsible for the designs of much of the decorative detailing of the Houses of Parliament.

The portrait of Pugin was painted in 1845 by Pugin’s friend John Rogers Herbert. Pugin designed the frame. - James #AskACurator

‘A.W.N. Pugin’ by John Rogers Herbert, oil on canvas, 1845
© Parliamentary Art Collection

New Dawn by @marybranson commemorates the campaign that led to some women gaining the vote in 1918, and all women in 1928.

Unveiled on 7 June 2016, the 150th anniversary of the first mass petition submitted to Parliament calling for women to be given the right to vote. #AskACurator

© Parliamentary Art Collection

Last year we unveiled a beautiful portrait of the late MP Bernie Grant, who died in 2000. Drawn in pencil and charcoal by @KOkaforart, the portrait took 180 hours to create. Guyana-born Grant is well-remembered for his passionate work campaigning for racial equality. #AskACurator

Bernie Grant was also known for making his mark in the @HouseofCommons by wearing a traditional Ghanaian cotton robe at the State Opening of Parliament. #AskACurator

'Bernie Grant’ by Kelvin Okafor, pencil and charcoal on paper, 2017 © Parliamentary Art Collection

I didn't want go end without mentioning our friends at @PHMMcr. Parliament’s portrait of @HackneyAbbott by Stuart Pearson Wright is currently on loan to the People’s History Museum free exhibition 'Represent! Voices 100 Years On': phm.org.uk/exhibitions/re… #AskACurator.

Thanks for reading about our collection and for your questions today. It's been great. I'll do my best to answer anymore, you can check out the rest of this thread to catch up. - James #AskACurator