The Queen's semi-detached

The Lords and Commons paid a visit to the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace on Monday evening, to view Art of Italy. Desmond Shawe-Taylor Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures, pointed out in his introduction that after the beheading of Charles I, the wicked Cromwell sold off his massive collection, and clever Louis of France got his hands on it. We would otherwise have - outside of Italy - the finest Renaissance collection in the world. Another reason to dislike Cromwell. Charles II did his best to buy back as much as possible but Mr Shawe-Taylor admitted that that amounted to only around 40%. Nevertheless, with two Caravaggios, three Carraccis and two Tintorettos littered around the three rooms of Masters, it was a thrilling exhibition - and quite a cunning way to get in the back door of Buckingham Palace.