Director David Bickerstaff

“Now that is a phrase to seize anyone’s attention. I am a naturally curious soul and have always wanted to take a peek inside the Palace, particularly at The Queen’s Gallery. The Royal Collection holds around a million artworks, housed at 15 royal residences, and includes the world’s largest Canaletto collection. Venice is an extraordinary city that, over the centuries of its unconquered empire, produced some of history’s greatest artists. Canaletto is certainly among them, but he can sometimes be a little misunderstood. Some think he simply depicted accurate Venice landscapes to be sold to tourists. He is, in fact, a master storyteller who plays with reality for his own purposes. To see his works out of their frames in the Conservation Studio at Windsor Castle or hanging in pride of place in Buckingham Palace is a privilege which our film will share with you. Or if, like me, you fancied a peek inside two of the world’s great palaces, the film offers that too – along with the story of how these extraordinary
paintings ended up in England.” – Phil Grabsky