Last updated: 01/10/2019
This is a tip for those who already know London well, enjoy art and want to get out of the ordinary, visiting a very beautiful and little-visited art gallery. Dulwich Picture Gallery is an excellent option to explore different places in the city.
DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY
The Dulwich Picture Gallery is an art gallery founded in 1817, being considered the England's oldest public art gallery. It was part of Alleyn's College of God's Gift, a charitable foundation created by actor, businessman and philanthropist Edward Alleyn in the early 17th century. The collection has been improved in size and quality by Sir Francis Bourgeois and your business partner, Noël Desenfans, considered founders of Dulwich Picture Gallery. The gallery, although little known to the general public, houses one of the best collections of old masters in the country, with a rich collection that includes French, Italian and Spanish Baroque paintings and British portraits from the Tudor dynasty to the 19th century.
Curiosities: In 1966, 8 paintings were stolen, including 3 by Rembrandt and 3 by Rubens. Together, the paintings were valued at at least £3 million. Fortunately, within a few days, all the paintings were recovered. O portrait of the young Rembrandt, by Jacob de Gheyn III, was stolen and recovered four times, most recently in 1983, and is listed in the Guinness Book, the Book of Records, as the most stolen artwork in the world. In 2017, the gallery celebrates its 200 years of history.
WHAT IS THE VISIT TO THE DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY LIKE
The Dulwich Picture Gallery is a relatively small gallery. In addition to the permanent collection, there are always special temporary exhibitions that can be visited for an additional fee. The gallery is made up of a series of interconnected rooms and lit by natural light through skylights. In the centre, in the background, is a mausoleum with the remains of Sir Francis Bourgeois, Noël Desenfans and his wife Margaret, considered the founders of the Dulwich Picture Gallery, as mentioned earlier.
The map below is a reproduction of the brochure received at the box office and shows how the gallery is divided into 13 rooms.
How the collection is distributed:
The permanent collection is in rooms I to V and from X to XIII. Note on the map above that the rooms numbered VI, VII, VIII and IX are part of special exhibitions and have separate entrance fees. To help with your visit, check out the highlights in the gallery's main rooms.
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- British art (rooms I, III and XIII): highlight for the work “A Couple in a Landscape” by Gainsborough, in room I
- Dutch art (rooms X and XI): Highlight for the work “Girl at a Window” by Rembrandt, in room XI
- Flemish art (room II): Highlight for the work “Samson and Delilah” by Van Dyck
- French art (room XII): Highlight for the painting “The Nature of Jupiter” by Poussin
- Italian / Spanish art (room “IIII”): highlight for the work “Three Boys” by Murilo
- Italian art (room V): highlight for the painting “San Jerome and a Donor” by Veronese
At the end of the exhibition, in room XIII, in addition to paintings by British artists, there is also a Dulwich Picture Gallery store, with gift items, books, postcards, among other decorative items.
ECONOMY IN LONDON: ACTIVITY CARDS
For those who want to do many things and visit many paid places in London, the suggestion is to purchase one of the cards that give you direct access to attractions and ride the tourist bus, saving a lot! O THE LONDON PASS is the most famous of them. The card can be purchased in versions of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 10 days. It entitles you to admission to over 60 of London's top attractions and 1 day tour on the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. In addition, the card offers more than 20 exclusive special offers at some of the city's shops and restaurants. See the full list of included attractions in this link. Price: from £69.
Read more: What to do in London – Complete itinerary of 5 days or more
WHERE TO EAT AT DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY
Even before entering the gallery, you will notice that there is a super nice outdoor area to enjoy on summer days. Looking at the gallery from the front, to the right will be a Coffee (and the restrooms – there are no restrooms inside the gallery for public use) and to the left, a beautiful Pub in a modern style, plus a grassy area with wooden picnic benches. See more information about these places below:
- Dulwich Picture Gallery Cafe: Serves a selection of salads, snacks, hot dishes, drinks and desserts. Great place for lunch or afternoon coffee. Schedules: Tuesday to Saturday from 8:00 to 17:00 / Sunday from 9:30 to 17:00 / closed on Mondays
- pavilion bar: A beautiful bar, with modern glass architecture, serving drinks, wines and snacks. Schedules: Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm (confirm on the official website as there may be Thursdays when the bar is closed or open at other times) / Friday from 11 am to 11 pm / Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 9 pm
HOW TO REACH DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY
- There are no tube stations near the Dulwich Picture Gallery, but there is a train station, West Dulwich. After arriving at the station, just walk on foot for 10 minutes.
- Another option is to go to the Brixton tube station it's hers take the P4 bus, the only line that passes in front of the gallery. Get off at the Dulwich Picture Gallery stop and you will be in front of the gallery.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Dulwich Picture Gallery
- Address: Gallery Rd, Southwark SE21 7AD
- Schedules: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm / closed on Mondays
- Entrance: £16.50
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See more options for art galleries and museums of decorative art in London:
- London: fantastic paintings at the National Gallery
- London: National Portrait Gallery – the portrait gallery
- London: Incredible Collection of Paintings at the Courtauld Gallery
- V&A – Victoria and Albert Museum in London
- Wallace Collection: one of London's best museums
- London: Guildhall Art Gallery & Roman Amphitheater
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