Geoffrey de Bellaigue
Encyclopedia
Sir Geoffrey de Bellaigue, GCVO, FBA, FSA
(born 12 March 1931) was Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art
from 1972 to 1996. His was the first full-time appointment to the office, and he did much to professionalise the Royal Collection
department after being made the Director of the Royal Collection
in 1988.
De Bellaigue was born in 1931, son of Viscount Pierre de Bellaigue and Marie-Antoinette Willemin, and was educated at Wellington College, and Trinity College
, Cambridge
, where he obtained a BA
in 1954 (and MA
in 1959). He also attended the École du Louvre
, Paris
.
From 1954 to 1959 de Bellaigue worked for J Henry Schroeder and Co. He then joined the National Trust
and worked for them at Waddesdon Manor
1960-1963, where he was Keeper of Collection 1962-1963.
De Bellaigue joined the Royal Household
in 1963, as Deputy Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art
. In 1972 he was promoted to Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art
, and since 1996 has been Surveyor Emeritus.
He held the positions of Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art
and Director of the Royal Collection
concurrently from 1988 to 1996.
He was a member of the Executive Committee of the National Art-Collection Fund from 1977, Honorary President of the French Porcelain Society from 1985, and a trustee of the Wallace Collection
from 1998.
Sir Geoffrey was made a MVO in 1968, and was promoted to CVO
in 1976. He was knight
ed and made a KCVO
in 1986 and to GCVO in 1996 on retirement.
He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy
in 1992, and was also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
.
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
(born 12 March 1931) was Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art
Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art
The office of Surveyor of the King's/Queen's Works of Art in the Royal Collection Department of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom is responsible for the care and maintenance of the royal collection of works of art owned by the Sovereign in an official capacity — as...
from 1972 to 1996. His was the first full-time appointment to the office, and he did much to professionalise the Royal Collection
Royal Collection
The Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. It is property of the monarch as sovereign, but is held in trust for her successors and the nation. It contains over 7,000 paintings, 40,000 watercolours and drawings, and about 150,000 old master prints, as well as historical...
department after being made the Director of the Royal Collection
Director of the Royal Collection
The Director of the Royal Collection is head of the Royal Collection Department of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The post was relatively new, having been established only in 1987.-List of Directors of the Royal Collection:...
in 1988.
De Bellaigue was born in 1931, son of Viscount Pierre de Bellaigue and Marie-Antoinette Willemin, and was educated at Wellington College, and Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he obtained a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1954 (and MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1959). He also attended the École du Louvre
École du Louvre
The École du Louvre is an institution of higher education and French Grande École located in the Aile de Flore of the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France, and is dedicated to the study of archaeology, art history, anthropology and epigraphy....
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
From 1954 to 1959 de Bellaigue worked for J Henry Schroeder and Co. He then joined the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
and worked for them at Waddesdon Manor
Waddesdon Manor
Waddesdon Manor is a country house in the village of Waddesdon, in Buckinghamshire, England. The house was built in the Neo-Renaissance style of a French château between 1874 and 1889 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild . Since this was the preferred style of the Rothschilds it became also known as...
1960-1963, where he was Keeper of Collection 1962-1963.
De Bellaigue joined the Royal Household
Royal Household
A Royal Household in ancient and medieval monarchies formed the basis for the general government of the country as well as providing for the needs of the sovereign and his relations....
in 1963, as Deputy Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art
Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art
The office of Surveyor of the King's/Queen's Works of Art in the Royal Collection Department of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom is responsible for the care and maintenance of the royal collection of works of art owned by the Sovereign in an official capacity — as...
. In 1972 he was promoted to Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art
Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art
The office of Surveyor of the King's/Queen's Works of Art in the Royal Collection Department of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom is responsible for the care and maintenance of the royal collection of works of art owned by the Sovereign in an official capacity — as...
, and since 1996 has been Surveyor Emeritus.
He held the positions of Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art
Surveyor of the Queen's Works of Art
The office of Surveyor of the King's/Queen's Works of Art in the Royal Collection Department of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom is responsible for the care and maintenance of the royal collection of works of art owned by the Sovereign in an official capacity — as...
and Director of the Royal Collection
Director of the Royal Collection
The Director of the Royal Collection is head of the Royal Collection Department of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The post was relatively new, having been established only in 1987.-List of Directors of the Royal Collection:...
concurrently from 1988 to 1996.
He was a member of the Executive Committee of the National Art-Collection Fund from 1977, Honorary President of the French Porcelain Society from 1985, and a trustee of the Wallace Collection
Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is a museum in London, with a world-famous range of fine and decorative arts from the 15th to the 19th centuries with large holdings of French 18th-century paintings, furniture, arms & armour, porcelain and Old Master paintings arranged into 25 galleries.It was established in...
from 1998.
Sir Geoffrey was made a MVO in 1968, and was promoted to CVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1976. He was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed and made a KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1986 and to GCVO in 1996 on retirement.
He was elected a Fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
in 1992, and was also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
.