Thread by @UKParliament

Have a burning question you'd like to #AskACurator? 🤔 Today is the day!

Our Assistant Curator Sileas Wood will be here from 11am-12pm to answer anything you'd like to know about UK Parliament's art collections, so get your questions in now 🖼️➡️

💬Why does Parliament have curators? ❓

UK Parliament holds important historic collections that have built up over centuries. We have a duty of care for these objects and our professionals ensure they are preserved for future generations. The first curator was appointed in 1853, and there have been curators ever since.

💬 What collections does Parliament hold? ❓

Our collections provide a unique perspective on the events that have shaped modern Britain.

The Parliamentary Art Collection contains 10,000 works of art in a wide variety of media, from oil paintings to digital video 🖼️📹

💬 What is the oldest object in the Parliamentary Art Collection?❓

The oldest objects in the collection are the statues of medieval kings. These were commissioned by King Richard II in 1385 as part of his remodelling of Westminster Hall (originally completed by King William II in 1099).

Copyright: UK Parliament

They were once brightly coloured with rich paintwork and gilding, but this has worn away over the years to reveal the stone carving beneath.

At over 600 years old, they are by far the oldest artworks in the collection! 👑

💬 What is the strangest object in the Parliamentary Art Collection? ❓

I think one of the strangest is an optical illusion portrait which shows 3 different portraits, depending on which angle you view it from.

It’s formed of three prints, two of which have been glued back to back and cut into strips and fixed vertically in front of the other.

By changing the viewing angle, you can flip between the different portraits – this one shows portraits of Benjamin Disraeli, Lord Salisbury and Sir Stafford Northcote.

Image credit: Portrait of Disraeli, Salisbury and Stafford Northcote, WOA 6297 © Parliamentary Art Collection

💬 What is your favourite object in the Parliamentary Art Collection? ❓

It’s hard to pick just one! I think I’d have to choose the set of four mosaics in Central Lobby which show the four patron saints of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

They’re high up so visitors might not see them when they first enter the Lobby, but they are beautiful!

Sir Edward John Poynter created the mosaics of St George and St David, and St Andrew at St Patrick were made by Robert Anning Bell.

Saint George WOA 4257; Saint David WOA 4255; Saint Andrew WOA 4256; Saint Patrick WOA 4254. © Parliamentary Art Collection

💬 What’s your favourite sculpture or statue in the collection? ❓

Of all the sculptural works in Parliament ‘New Dawn’ is my personal favourite.

It’s a contemporary sculpture by Mary Branson made from metal and illuminated glass, and it commemorates the long campaign that led to some women gaining the vote in 1918, and all women in 1928.

The illuminated coloured glass disks change over time and the sequence is linked to the tidal River Thames running past the Houses of Parliament.

‘New Dawn’ by Mary Branson, WOA S753
© Parliamentary Art Collection, UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

💬 Can I come and visit the collection? ❓

Many items from the collections can be viewed by visitors on tours along the visitor route, which you can also explore on the virtual tour of Parliament: parliament.uk/visiting/virtu… 💻📱

There are also specialist tours that look at the art and architecture in the @UKHouseofLords and the collection of contemporary portraits in Portcullis House 🖼️

See here for more information on how to visit ➡️parliament.uk/visit