Queen Charlotte's Boudoir

Highlights of Queen Charlotte's Boudoir

Sofa and three armchairs

This suite of furniture closely matches the description of the furniture supplied by the royal upholsterer Charles Elliott for a small drawing room at Kew in 1809: ‘Grecian scroll sofa frame, brass gilt ornaments’ and ‘8 Grecian black dyed chairs with cane seats and 2 elbows’.  

Grecian refers to the shape of leg, like an ancient Greek chair, which was very fashionable at this time. These may have been made for the Prince of Wales’s house, Carlton House, in 1807.

'Head of a Laughing Youth' by Jan Molenaer c.1630 

The bold, informal pose of the sitter contrasts with his smart and elegant hat. This juxtaposition of the spontaneous and informal was brought into fashion by Frans Hals and was copied by followers such as Molenaer. Portraits such as this one influenced English artists like William Hogarth, who perfected this more relaxed style of portraiture. 

This painting was acquired by George III in 1762 with the Consul Joseph Smith collection in Venice. It was previously owned by the painter GA Pellegrini.  

Plaster roundels

As you explore the Queen’s Boudoir, note the plaster roundels in the ceiling, which depict the five senses of taste, touch, sight, smell and hearing. They were probably made by a local plasterer as nearby Boston manor has an identical ceiling. The central roundel is for hearing, suggesting that this may have once been a music room.