Georgians Revealed; Life, Style and the Making of Modern Britain

Tom and Jerry at the Exhibition of Pictures at the Royal Aacademy by Isaac Robert and George Cruikshank, 1821

Given how long exhibitions of this calibre take to organise- it contains over 200 original objects and paintings- it probably is coincidence that an exhibition of the last Georgian Age has coincided very nicely with the dawn of the next. I am talking of course about the birth of Prince George Alexander Louis Cambridge. It's very interesting to note that the cult of celebrity, interest in media coverage of events, need for spectacle and the desire to be oh-so-middle-England, all traits in the British public that were really made obvious by the event of Prince George's birth, were common in the British public of the first Georgian era.

This exhibition showcases the middle-class lifestyle in all of its elegant and sumptuous glory. Once you have walked through the first gallery that outlines the main social and political events of the era and, of course, introduces the four Georges and their wives, you are rewarded for hard work, as you should be, with a nice cup of tea!

In was in the Georgian period that serving this Eastern delight really became a fashionable affair. it wasn't as simple ass popping the kettle on, however. The Georgians even had a guide for polite conversation which should accompany the tea.

Once tea is over, every other aspect of Georgian day-to-day life and special events is covered. Robert Adam, the architects work is discussed, beautiful herbals illustrating botanical discoveries of the day are exhibited and the latest fashions are shown. Entertainment was a huge part of the Georgians' social life, demonstrated by circus posters, advertisements for balls and dances and the opening of Vauxhall and Kennington Pleasure Gardens. This inspired the cult of celebrity, with icons such as Grimaldi the Clown and actress Sarah Siddons. This lifestyle was captured by satirical artists of the day such as Cruicshanks and Hogarth, a wealth of their engraving work hangs in the exhibition.

The exhibition is so full of interesting artefacts which are beautifully exhibited. You simply don't get bored of looking and learning. The real treat is right at the end of the exhibition when you descend into Georgian London, by way of a huge map that covers the floor. Each area of the city is explained in its historical context, allowing you to really step back in time. A must see exhibition. 

Georgians Revealed at the British Library until 11th March 2014