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 This
small gallery has one of the world's finest collections of
Impressionist paintings.
The Courtauld Institute of Art
was established by the textile magnate Samuel Courtauld in
1931 to offer a university degree in art history, the first
in England. He also donated his collection of Impressionist
and Post-Impressionist paintings, establishing the current
art collection.
The Courtauld Institute Gallery
opened to the public in 1958 in Woburn Square. Since
1990 the Courtauld Institute of Art, together with its collection,
has been housed in the north wing of Sir William Chamber's
splendid Somerset
House.
The Gallery's Fine Rooms, once
home to the Royal Academy, were refurbished in 1997 - 98 and
now house the Institute's 16th - 18th century works.
Samuel Courtauld's collections
of Impressionist and Post Impressionist paintings have been
added to by donations, and include the collection of Count
Antoine Seilern, who donated 14th to 20th century paintings.
Today, the gallery is still expanding and includes examples
of the 20th century British School.
The early galleries contain works
by Rubens and early Flemish and Italian artists including
Breughel, Bellini, Bottecilli and Tiepolo. Highlights
include Cranach's 'Adam and Eve' and Fra Angelico's 'Man of
Sorrows'.
The main collection contains
works by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists, and
these works are the main attraction of the Courtauld Gallery,
with masterpieces by Manet, Renoir, Monet, Degas, Cézanne,
Toulouse-Latrec and Gaugin. Famous individual works
include Manet's 'Bar at the Folies-Bergère', one of the two
versions of 'Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe', Van Gogh's 'Self-portrait
with Bandaged Ear', Cézanne's 'The Card Players' and Gaugin's
'Nevermore'.
Also located at Somerset House
are the newly-opened Gilbert
Collection and Hermitage
Rooms. The central courtyard, with its fountains,
transformed into a skating rink in winter, is the site of
a series of cultural events.
The River Terrace has a café
with views over the Thames
Admission charge, except
Mon 10:00-14:00 - not including Bank Holidays, and after 17:00
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except Monday 10:00-14:00 pm - not including Bank Holidays,
and after 17:00