King George IV was, in his own words, “rather too fond of women and wine.” But he redeemed himself with his passionate patronage of the arts. When he ascended the throne in 1820, this avid collector had already built an astounding collection of paintings, metalwork, textiles, furniture, watercolors, books, and ceramics—pieces created by artists all over Europe. In an exhibition that traces George IV’s extravagant life, his archive is unveiled. —E.C.