Visitors to Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms this summer will encounter a significantly transformed Picture Gallery. Curators have implemented a "salon-style" hang, a maximalist approach that stacks artworks both vertically and horizontally to maximize wall space. This design shift has increased the number of paintings on display from 63 to 120.

The project required approximately 875 hours of labor, with curators consulting historical records, including blueprints, photographs, and watercolors, to replicate the gallery's appearance from previous eras. The update also features new emerald-green silk damask wall coverings and upgraded lighting to highlight the collection's golden frames. According to reports, King Charles III provided input on the new design.

The denser layout allows for thematic groupings of works by renowned artists. For instance, five Rembrandt paintings and one studio-attributed piece are now displayed together, while seven works by Peter Paul Rubens are positioned adjacently. Other notable pieces on view include works by Titian, Frans Hals, and Johan Zoffany.

Anna Reynolds, surveyor of The King’s Pictures, noted that the renovation aligns with the institution's goal to increase public access to the Royal Collection. "It continues the longstanding tradition of renovations and re-hangs in the Picture Gallery that have commonly taken place following a change of reign," Reynolds said.

The salon-style hang, which originated in the 17th century, fell out of fashion during the 20th century as minimalist display methods became the standard. However, the style has seen a recent resurgence in institutions such as Tate Britain and the National Portrait Gallery. The Buckingham Palace exhibition will remain open to the public through September 27.

Source: Smithsonian Magazine