Image: A screenshot of the Google Arts & Culture project with HRP
The collaboration used ultra-high-resolution imaging and 3D scanning technology to digitally catalog fashion history
Historic Royal Palaces has announced a new partnership with Google Arts & Culture that will provide online access to nearly 200 garments from its Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection.
The collaboration used ultra-high-resolution imaging, capturing a billion pixels per image, alongside 3D scanning to digitally preserve the pieces, spanning from the 16th century to the present day.
The resulting digital exhibition features over 20 curated stories and videos featuring Historic Royal Palaces’ curators and conservators. An interactive landing page enables visitors to explore garments by colour, time period and theme.
The Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, recognised as a Designated Collection of national and international importance, contains over 10,000 items of historic dress that offer unique insights into British fashion history, ceremonial traditions and court life. The collection includes garments worn by monarchs and royal figures including George III, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Princess Margaret, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Queen Elizabeth II.
Matthew Storey, curator at Historic Royal Palaces, said ultra-high-resolution imaging and 3D scanning techniques allowed garments which are “inherently fragile” to be displayed more widely.
Amit Sood, Founder and Director, Google Arts & Culture said the partnership “[brings] 200 rarely-seen iconic garments to a global audience for the first time, preserving this history for generations to come.”
The collection is available to explore at goo.gle/royalwardrobe.
