Ambassadorial Art: The Government Art Collection

The Government Art Collection (GAC) must be one of the most well-travelled art collections in the world. Its works are on display in nearly every capital city and are constantly on the move.

In the 35 years since Vanessa Bell’s Byzantine Lady was acquired by the collection, she’s been dispatched to ambassadors’ residences in Berlin, Bonn and Beijing. Now she’s back in London at the Whitechapel Gallery, featuring in Simon Schama’s Travelling Light exhibition, which explores the ideas of travel and cultural exchange.

The GAC as a whole promotes British art and history whilst contributing to cultural diplomacy. When deciding where a particular work will be displayed, the GAC aims to capture cultural resonances, and also considers associations with particular locations.

For instance, the Jewish artist David Bomberg’s Interior of the Armenian Church, Jerusalem has hung for nearly 25 years in the ambassador’s residence in Tel Aviv.

George Gordon Byron (1788–1824), 6th Baron Byron, Poet (Thomas Phillips; Collection:Government Art Collection)

Similarly, for over a half a century, the ambassador’s residence in Athens has been home to Thomas Phillips' 1814 portrait of Lord Byron, recognising the sitter’s position as a fighter for Greek independence.

Commendably for such a large collection, about three quarters of the GAC’s holdings is on display. The majority hang in the public areas of government buildings in the UK and abroad where they can be appreciated by visitors and staff alike.

And, of course, the GAC’s oil paintings can be viewed online at Your Paintings.

Adam Jackman is an Editorial Assistant at the Public Catalogue Foundation.