Julius Bryant is keeper emeritus of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), London. As the V&A’s former keeper of word and
image (2005–21), he was responsible for the museum’s collections of paintings, photographs, prints, drawings, designs, the
National Art Library, the Archive of Art and Design, and the V&A’s Architecture
Partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects. He also served as the
V&A’s curatorial adviser to Chevening, the UK foreign secretary’s official country
house, a role he continues to enjoy in “retirement.”
After training in London at University College and the Courtauld Institute of Art, Dr. Bryant worked at Sotheby’s, the V&A, and the Iveagh Bequest, Kenwood. As the first director of museums and collections at English Heritage, he established a nationwide team of curators and conservators and specialized in the acquisition, restoration, and redisplay of historic houses open to the public. He rediscovered and “saved for the nation” many historic objects that returned to their former homes, especially furniture by William Kent, Robert Adam, George Bullock, John Lockwood Kipling, and Peter Malacrida. His most significant acquisition for English Heritage was the Wernher Collection of Renaissance and later decorative arts from Luton Hoo.
Dr. Bryant was the V&A’s lead curator for exhibitions organized with BGC on James “Athenian” Stuart (2006–07), William Kent (2013–14), and John Lockwood Kipling (2017–18). He also contributed to the BGC exhibition Majolica Mania (2021–22) and is currently writing for BGC’s exhibition on Philip Webb. His next book, The Great Exhibition in Art : Picturing the First World’s Fair, 1851 (October 2025) forms the prequel to his 3-volume history of the V&A.
After training in London at University College and the Courtauld Institute of Art, Dr. Bryant worked at Sotheby’s, the V&A, and the Iveagh Bequest, Kenwood. As the first director of museums and collections at English Heritage, he established a nationwide team of curators and conservators and specialized in the acquisition, restoration, and redisplay of historic houses open to the public. He rediscovered and “saved for the nation” many historic objects that returned to their former homes, especially furniture by William Kent, Robert Adam, George Bullock, John Lockwood Kipling, and Peter Malacrida. His most significant acquisition for English Heritage was the Wernher Collection of Renaissance and later decorative arts from Luton Hoo.
Dr. Bryant was the V&A’s lead curator for exhibitions organized with BGC on James “Athenian” Stuart (2006–07), William Kent (2013–14), and John Lockwood Kipling (2017–18). He also contributed to the BGC exhibition Majolica Mania (2021–22) and is currently writing for BGC’s exhibition on Philip Webb. His next book, The Great Exhibition in Art : Picturing the First World’s Fair, 1851 (October 2025) forms the prequel to his 3-volume history of the V&A.
