Ambassador’s Residence and Embassy

When Athens hosted the 2004 Olympic Games, the British Embassy provided a natural location for showcasing works from our Collection. Requiring a lifespan beyond the duration of the Games, the display included works which have general associations with Greece, and several directly connected to the Games. One of our most important works, Thomas Phillips’ portrait of the poet Lord Byron, returned to the Residence after its loan to public exhibitions in the UK. Famed for his close involvement with the Greek War of Independence, Byron is shown in traditional Albanian dress. A painting of Newstead Abbey, his family home, was displayed with the portrait.

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