The Queen at the Manchester Exhibition of Art Treasures: The Address

In the intimacy of Osborne House, Prince Albert could enjoy and reflect upon the early Italian paintings in his collection. Yet, in the spirit of showing these works to the public, Prince Albert and Queen Victoria lent fifty-two pictures to the Arts Treasures Exhibition in Manchester in 1857.  This included works such as Duccio's Triptych (RCIN 400095). The Manchester exhibition was an important opportunity to showcase early Italian art, and played a part in the increasing interest in this kind of painting in Britain from the 1850s onwards.