Bendor Grosvenor's 'The Invention of British Art' Examines National Identity Through Art History

Bendor Grosvenor's 'The Invention of British Art,' set to be released by Elliot & Thompson in January and February 2025 for £40, delves into how historical events shaped British identity in art. He posits that the Protestant Reformation and the English Revolution impeded the growth of British art. The narrative spans from prehistoric eras through the Roman Empire, Anglo-Saxon Britain, Viking invasions, and the Norman Conquest. The local aristocracy's preference for European talent suppressed native artistic expressions, resulting in social unrest, including riots against settlers from the Netherlands. A unique British art form began to take shape in the 18th and early 19th centuries, epitomized by Turner's 1835 work, 'The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons.' The book also engages with current discussions surrounding the decolonization of art history.