Despite being London’s oldest purpose built gallery, Dulwich Picture Gallery always feels like a lovely secret. It is tucked away in a leafy part of South East London which makes it a favourite ‘Finding Quiet London’ destination.
The History
Its story begins in the early 1600’s when a number of hangings and pictures were left to what was then Dulwich College. In the early 1800’s a large collection of paintings were given to the gallery on the understanding that all refurbishments of the gallery were carried out by Sir John Soane. The gallery was refurbished and developed and opened to the public in 1817.
During WWII, it suffered extensive damage during a bombing raid and many repairs were required before it was reopened in 1953 by The Queen Mother. It was reopened again by Her Majesty the Queen after a new cafe, lecture theatre, and the award-winning Sackler Centre for Arts Education were added in 2000. In 2014, the entire permanent collection was made accessible online via the gallery’s new website. Rather uniquely the museum also has a mausoleum containing the tombs of its founders.
The Permanent Collection
The gallery houses over 600 works from European masters. Paintings from the likes of Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Canaletto, Van Dyck, Constable and Rubens can be viewed. The walls of the gallery are painted rich shades of deep red and blue and are fitting for the grand paintings which adorn them.
One of the joys of this gallery is its size. Compared to the larger London Galleries it is small. This makes it very manageable and it is quite possible to view every painting if you so wish to do so.
Temporary Exhibitions
For just a few more days ‘Unearthed Photography’s Roots’ is showing. This is the gallery’s first photography exhibition and explores the pioneering story of photography from the 1840’s to today, told through stunning still lifes of plants and botany.
The variety of temporary exhibitions is impressive with past ones showing the works of Vanessa Bell (one of my favourites), the watercolours of Sargent, Tove Jansson, print making from Hockney, and more recently an exhibition of British Surrealism. Coming up in September 2021 is the exhibition Helen Frankenthaler: Radical beauty. She is one of the most important American abstract artists of the 20th century. A feature of this exhibition will also be Monet’s ‘Water Lilies and Agapanthus’
The Extras
Any visit to a museum is enhanced by an interesting shop and a lovely cafe. Dulwich Picture Gallery has both. The shop has a varied collection of books and cards but also always has many items relating to its current exhibition.
The Cafe is in a contemporary building with terrace where drinks and food are served during the summer months. There are also spacious gardens with tables for some convivial eating and drinking. Coffee, tea, cakes, alcohol and light lunches are on offer.
The garden is lovely and something you don’t get in quite the same way in the larger London galleries. During the summer it is filled with local families enjoying the space.
Visiting
A short 15 minute hop on the overground from Victoria to West Dulwich or London Bridge to North Dulwich and you are just a 10 minute walk away.
Currently to visit, bookings need to be made in advance.
The gallery is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–5pm
The Gallery is in the heart of Dulwich village which means there are book shops and cafes and pretty streets to enjoy if you want to extend your visit.
…and Finally
Sir John Soane also designed Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery in Ealing. There are clear similarities between the two buildings. You can read my post about Pitzhanger, one of my local Finding Quiet London favourites.
