Royal Collection Exhibition to Showcase 160 Masterpieces by Titian, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and More

An exhibition featuring approximately 160 works by over 80 renowned artists, including Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and Leonardo da Vinci, is set to be the most comprehensive display of Italian Renaissance drawings ever held in the UK.

These pieces, drawn from the vast royal collection, will be on view at the King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, starting this November. The exhibition will debut more than 30 drawings, with an additional 12 being shown in the UK for the first time.

Many of these drawings were created as preparatory works for significant art pieces, including paintings, sculptures, and prints. A particular highlight is Raphael’s red chalk sketch of *The Three Graces* from around 1517-18, a study featuring a model in three different poses, originally crafted for his fresco *The Wedding Feast of Cupid and Psyche* at the Villa Farnesina in Rome.

Other standout pieces include a chalk study of an ostrich from around 1550, credited to Titian, and Michelangelo’s sketch, *The Virgin and Child with the Young Baptist*, circa 1532.

Exhibition curator Martin Clayton remarked, “The royal collection is home to an unparalleled range of Renaissance drawings. These impressive, vibrant studies reflect how revolutionary and dynamic the art of drawing became during the Renaissance.”

He added, “Drawing was integral to every stage of artistic creation during this period. Since these delicate works are rarely displayed due to conservation needs, this exhibition presents a rare opportunity for viewers to experience the brilliance of these masters up close and explore their creative processes.”

One of the oldest drawings featured is Fra Angelico’s intricate *Bust of a Cleric* (circa 1447-50), believed to have been a preparatory study for his fresco work in Pope Nicholas V’s chapel at the Vatican. The piece is a rare surviving example of the Florentine artist’s draftsmanship.

Likewise, Titian’s *Ostrich* will be shown in the UK for the first time. The chalk drawing, presumed to have originated after encountering a live ostrich imported into Venice, showcases the influence of the city’s trade connections with the eastern Mediterranean.

Among the more whimsical works is Leonardo da Vinci’s *Costume Study for a Masque* (circa 1517-18). This extravagant design, full of ribbons, fur, and plumes, was created during Leonardo’s time at the French court, where he devised elaborate costumes for the pageantry led by King Francis I.

The exhibition also highlights works by lesser-known artists, including Paolo Farinati’s study of three mythological figures under an arch from around 1590. Interestingly, Farinati included a note with the drawing, instructing his assistants to exercise creative freedom during its execution: "You may do it as you fancy when you are on the scaffolding."

The show is organized thematically, featuring sections dedicated to life studies, explorations of nature, designs for everyday objects, religious themes, and secular decorations.