Dulwich Picture Gallery Described by the Sunday Telegraph as ‘the most beautiful small art gallery in the world’, the Dulwich Picture Gallery is housed in a magnificent building built in 1811.
Opened to the public in 1814, it was designed by Sir John Soane and is England’s oldest purpose-built art gallery.
It contains a superb collection of 17th and 18th century European masterpieces including Rubens, Rembrandt and Caneletto - as well as critically acclaimed temporary exhibitions.
The gallery’s origins are certainly unusual; the main collection was started by a French art dealer, Noel Desenfans, with the paintings originally intended for the National Gallery of Poland. They changed hands several times until eventually they were bequeathed to Dulwich College.
The entrance hall houses portraits of the gallery’s founders and their tombs lie in the mausoleum in the heart of the gallery.
For the ordinary visitor, it’s a perfectly designed gallery. It’s a manageable size, has a stunning collection of accessible artwork, is set in beautiful grounds and positioned opposite the 75 acres of Dulwich Park.
It’s a must see – not only for the committed art lover but for anyone looking for a fascinating day out in South East London. |