Villiers Revealed – Darling of the Stuart Court

Courtier, Idol, Politician, Sex Symbol….Lover?

Famous within his own lifetime and beyond, Villiers was subject to speculation as to the nature of his relationship with King James I. Historical evidence details an intense closeness that we might describe as ‘Queer’ today. The King publicly lavished Villiers with kisses and declared himself as ‘husband’.

Today, speculation about their relationship continues. Previously, cultural historians have sometimes erased, misrepresented, or coded the language of LGBTQ+ lives.

Language like ‘just good friends’, ‘favourite’ or ‘companion’ have been used to describe queer lives and relationships in historical records or art history.

Villiers’s story is a reminder that LGBTQ+ life and love isn’t a side story in history, but it shapes history. A history we all inherit and can explore together. The ‘favourite’ continues to inspire debate and queer reflection.

This exhibition has been co-curated with Jon Sleigh and is an online version of the exhibition at Melton Carnegie Museum which runs from Saturday 5 October 2024 until Saturday 28 June 2025.

Villiers Revealed: ‘We Have Always Been Here’ is the creative community response to our portrait that is now in the exhibition space at Melton Carnegie Museum until Saturday 28 June 2025.

Curated by multidisciplinary artist, designer, and facilitator Aaran Sian (they/them), ‘Villiers Revealed: ‘We Have Always Been Here’ is a powerful exploration of queerness, erasure, and reclamation. Centred around the portrait of George Villiers — whose speculated queerness was largely ignored despite his political power — the exhibition expands beyond his story to explore intersectional queer and trans histories across cultures and time.

The exhibition was co-created with LGBTQIA+ communities in and around Leicestershire through a series of creative workshops. Participants explored themes of identity, ancestry, and resistance through collage, poetry, and portrait-making. In collaboration with Dosti, a support group for South Asian and Middle Eastern LGBTQ+ people, a large collective tapestry was created, layered with silhouettes, textiles, and vibrant materials. An LGBTQ+ youth group produced expressive silhouette portraits, and an online workshop connected participants through mailed creative packs and digital collaging sessions.

A poetry workshop, led by artist and writer Nikita in collaboration with Queer Coffee Link Ups, explored global examples of gender fluidity. The resulting collective poem runs through the exhibition, linking each artwork with a shared thread.

Visit the exhibition Melton Carnegie Museum www.meltonmuseum.org

Become a volunteer www.cultureleicestershire.co.uk/volunteering