Manchester Art Gallery is best known for its important, representative collection of work by nineteenth-century British artists, particularly the Pre-Raphaelites. This is a reflection of its history: the nucleus of the collection came from the Royal Manchester Institution which showed a preference for acquiring contemporary art that continued when it became the City Art Gallery in 1883. The Bradford collector, Charles Rutherston, presented his modern art collection to the Gallery in 1925 and significant contemporary works were acquired during both World Wars, resulting in one of the most important war art collections outside London. Since 1945, the holdings of eighteenth century British art have been strengthened with the purchase of paintings by, amongst others, Thomas Gainsborough, Joshua Reynolds and George Stubbs. In 1979, the European Old Masters collection was transformed by the Assheton Bennett bequest of almost a hundred paintings, mainly by seventeenth-century Dutch and Flemish artists. Today the collection includes over 2,000 oil paintings, plus related studies and archival material, and there is a renewed focus on collecting contemporary art.
Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester M2 3JL England
0161 235 8888
http://www.manchesterartgallery.orgPlease remember to double-check the opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit
Artworks
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Daffodils and Tulips Adrian Ryan (1920–1998) -
Pomegranates Matthew Arnold Bracy Smith (1879–1959) -
Burdens Farm with Melbury Beacon Gilbert Spencer (1892–1979) -
Celebration Ray Smith (1949–2018) -
4 Part Painting (Nuremberg) Jean Spencer (1942–1998) -
A Village in Heaven Stanley Spencer (1891–1959) -
4 Part Painting (Nuremberg) Jean Spencer (1942–1998) - 2,155 more
Stories
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Annie Swynnerton: artist and activistRebecca Milner
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Speech Acts: an introduction by Sonia BoyceSonia Boyce
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Speech Acts: a curatorial introductionHammad Nasar
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Speech Acts: reflections – performing the selfHammad Nasar
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Speech Acts: imagination – the sum of allHammad Nasar
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Fighting for representationVictoria Ibbett
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Art Matters podcast: Finding Britain's lost masterpiecesFerren Gipson
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L. S. Lowry and the Pre-RaphaelitesClaire Stewart
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In the beginning was Eve... by RodinLydia Figes
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Derek Jarman: painting it outRobert Mills
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Artist in focus: Elizabeth ButlerFelicity Herring
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From Bradford to Benares: the art of William RothensteinDr Samuel Shaw
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News
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17 September 2018
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