7 September 2022 – 8 January 2023
Free
★★★★ ‘A compelling exhibition’ – The Telegraph
‘This small but fascinating display leads you into a treasure trove’ – Evening Standard
Menacing or misunderstood? Villainous or vilified? King Richard III (1452-85) is one of the most enigmatic and controversial figures in British history. Since the 16th century, he has been portrayed as an arch-villain, a usurper and a murderer, stalking England’s past. However, modern scholarship has shown that in many ways he was a capable, compassionate monarch.
This one-room display traced the story of how key objects and staff at The Wallace Collection influence the way we imagine Richard III today, and how he has been portrayed in cinema for nearly a century. Visitors had a unique opportunity to view the complete replica armour created for the film The Lost King (2022), before exploring the story throughout the Wallace's remarkable galleries of medieval and Renaissance arms and armour.