Introduction to The Wallace Collection The Wallace Collection is a museum located in Manchester Square, London, United Kingdom. It was established in 1897 from the private collection of Sir Richard Wallace, who built the extensive collection along with the Marquesses of Hertford in the 18th and 19th centuries. The collection features fine and decorative arts from the 15th to the 19th centuries with important holdings of French 18th-century paintings, furniture, arms and armour, porcelain and Old Master paintings arranged into 25 galleries. It is open to the public and entry is free...
The Wallace Collection, London, United Kingdom
Introduction to The Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is a museum located in Manchester Square, London, United Kingdom. It was established in 1897 from the private collection of Sir Richard Wallace, who built the extensive collection along with the Marquesses of Hertford in the 18th and 19th centuries. The collection features fine and decorative arts from the 15th to the 19th centuries with important holdings of French 18th-century paintings, furniture, arms and armour, porcelain and Old Master paintings arranged into 25 galleries. It is open to the public and entry is free.
History of The Wallace Collection
The collection was established in 1897 from the private collection mainly created by Richard Seymour-Conway, 4th Marquess of Hertford (1800–1870), who left both it and the house to his illegitimate son Sir Richard Wallace (1818–1890), whose widow Julie Amelie Charlotte Castelnau bequeathed the entire collection to the nation. The collection opened to permanent public view in 1900 in Hertford House, and remains there to this day. A condition of the bequest was that no object should ever leave the collection, even for loan exhibitions. However in September 2019, the board of trustees announced that they had obtained an order from the Charity Commission for England & Wales which allowed them to enter into temporary loan agreements for the first time.
Highlights of The Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is particularly rich in French 18th-century art, with important holdings of furniture, porcelain and paintings. Some of the highlights include:
This painting is one of the most famous examples of Rococo art and is a highlight of the Wallace Collection. It depicts a young woman on a swing, being pushed by a bishop, while her lover looks up her dress from below.
This painting is a masterpiece of still life and is one of the most famous works in the Wallace Collection. It depicts a simple lunch of bread, cheese and wine on a table, with a knife and a glass in the foreground.
This painting is one of the most famous works of British art and is a highlight of the Wallace Collection. It depicts the death of Major Francis Peirson during the Battle of Jersey in 1781, with dramatic effect.
Visiting The Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is open to the public and entry is free. It is located in Hertford House, Manchester Square, London, W1U 3BN, United Kingdom. The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm, except for Christmas Day. For more information, visit the
official website.
Conclusion
The Wallace Collection is a must-see museum for anyone interested in fine and decorative arts from the 15th to the 19th centuries, with a particular focus on French 18th-century art. With important holdings of furniture, porcelain and paintings, it is one of the most impressive collections of its kind in the world. The museum is open to the public and entry is free, making it an accessible and enjoyable experience for all visitors.