What is the oldest work of art in the collection?
The oldest works of art in the collection are 14 statues of medieval kings which stand in Westminster Hall. They date to around 1388, which makes them over 600 years old. They were once brightly coloured with rich paintwork and gilding, however this has worn away over the years to reveal the stone carving beneath. They date from when Westminster Hall was a Royal residence during the reign of Richard II. The oldest picture of the Palace of Westminster itself is by the artist Jan Lievens. It is an ink drawing which shows the way that the Palace looked in around 1630. See the image by searching the collection WoA 6417.
