Palaces of Revolution: Life, Death and Art at the Stuart Court

A Thrilling Saga of the Stuart Dynasty

The story of the Stuart dynasty is a breathless soap opera, unfolding over just a hundred years and spanning an array of buildings across Europe—from Scotland to Denmark, Holland, Spain, and England.

Life in the Stuart Court

Life in the court of the House of Stuart has long been shrouded in mystery:

• The first half of the century was overshadowed by the fall and execution of Charles I.
• The second half saw the complete collapse of the House itself.

What has been lost to time is the extraordinary contribution the Stuarts made to the fabric of sovereignty.

Art, Architecture, and the Stuart Legacy

Every palace they built, every painting they commissioned, and every artwork they acquired was a direct reflection of their lives and thoughts. Palaces of Revolution delves into this rich history, offering a graphic and detailed exploration of the dynasty.

Highlights include:

• Royston and Newmarket, where James I transformed most of the town centre into a rough-and-ready royal housing estate.
• The steamy Turkish baths at Whitehall, where Charles II seduced his mistresses.

Through the buildings they inhabited and the objects they commissioned, the intimate private lives of the monarchs are revealed, creating an entirely new narrative of the Stuart century.

A Journey Through Time and Place

Palaces of Revolution traces this extraordinary period across the places and palaces where the drama unfolded, presenting a thrilling new history of this remarkable dynasty.