On 23 September 2025, a milestone of sculpture scholarship will be reached by the publication of a catalogue of 1,800 works of European Sculpture in the Royal Collection.

To mark the appearance of this major new work in four volumes, the author Jonathan Marsden (former Director of the Royal Collection) will speak about the Collection with John Chu, Senior Curator of Pictures and Sculpture for the National Trust.

Ranging in date from the late 15th to the late 20th centuries and incorporating works from Britain and continental Europe in bronze, marble and other materials, both the Royal Collection and those of the National Trust are spread across multiple sites. Formed by the tastes of numerous individuals through several centuries, in what ways can they truly be called collections? How has sculpture most impacted the royal palaces and the great houses of Great Britain and Northern Ireland at different periods?

The creation of the catalogue has taken place over 27 years involving fieldwork, scientific examination, photography, conservation and archival research, notably in the Archive of Sculptors’ Papers at Henry Moore Institute. The event will also address the challenges faced by curators and institutions in documenting and publishing collections on such a scale today, and explore the public benefits that flow from such endeavours.