Stories

I am pleased to update our supporters at Royal Oak about the important work we are undertaking to raise the standards of curatorship at the National Trust. Recent media coverage has misrepresented our approach to historic interiors, taking Helen Ghosh’s comments about more focused interpretations out of context. We do not seek to simplify or in any way dumb down presentations of our houses and collections, but we may on occasion choose to draw out a particular aspect, theme or story.

A vividly detailed 17th century still life painting, originally bought by a patron of the arts and a minister to King William III, has returned to its historical home. Now visitors to the National Trust’s Dyrham Park in Gloucestershire will be able to enjoy a splendid example of a still life depicting flowers and fruit by Dutch artist Cornelis de Heem (1631-1695).

On Friday, March 27th, I participated in a Royal Oak programs tour for a studio visit to Venturella Studios. I’ve always through the process of glass restoration was incredibly interesting, but I didn’t realize that there were studios so close by in NYC that did this. When we arrived at the studio, I was expecting a warehouse type setting. Instead we met in the lobby of a building that could very well have been the lobby to a doctor’s office! Once we went upstairs though, the hallways grew tight and mazelike. After winding around a few turns, we arrived at the studio. Thomas Venturella, the owner, operator and Senior Conservator met us at the door and welcomed us inside.

Staircases and interiors are an important part of what makes National Trust interiors so otherworldly. Their intricate detail and thoughtful design fascinate Royal Oak's Jacqueline Bascetta. Read about what she finds so special about them, and then see for yourself with a Royal Oak membership.

All of us at The Royal Oak Foundation are excited to launch our 2015 National Trust Appeal for the Furniture Research Project. For inspiration, I’ve been digging through the Royal Oak archives and boy did I find an article to whet the appetite of our furniture and decorative arts enthusiasts! In the spring of 2010, Royal Oak published an article in the newsletter by Tim Knox, then Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum in London and former architectural historian and Head Curator at the National Trust. This in-depth article describes the English country house interiors inch by inch, from the plasterwork on the ceiling to the elaborate needle-work on the furniture.