Let's Draw the Wallace Collection 20 February 2016

Sketching in the Wallace Collection by Katherine Tyrrell

Next Saturday London Urban Sketchers will be visiting Manchester Square and the Wallace Collection.

• Both are situated in Marylebone, just north of Oxford Street in the centre of London. 
• Bond Street provides the nearest tube (Central and Jubilee Lines) and 
• it's a short 6 minute walk via James Street or Duke Street to the Wallace Collection.

This is a summary of the visit - followed by a description of what we are visiting.

• MAP: Map https://goo.gl/maps/Nxq6LAz8E232
• START venue/time: 11:00 The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN
• wet - under the portico at the front door to Hertford House (see photo below)
• dry - on the pavement to right of the Wallace Collection front door
• LUNCH: 1:00pm - on the pavement to right of the Wallace Collection front door
• FINISH: 3:30pm - on the pavement to right of the Wallace Collection front door
• AFTERWARDS: The Wallace Collection Restaurant and Cafe - I can recommend the cream teas!
• Travel: Tube Station - Bond Street Station 
• Toilets: basement of the Wallace Collection (see plan below)
• Websites:  http://www.wallacecollection.org and

There are no large areas in the Wallace Collection where we can congregate.

• Ideally if the weather is dry we'll meet at the beginning, lunch and at the end of the day on the pavement to the right of the front entrance to the Wallace Collection
• If the weather is wet we'll huddle under the entrance portico!

Entrance and front elevation of Hertford House
Home to the Wallace Collection

Manchester Square

Manchester Square in London
from Richard Horwoods map of London (1792-99)

Manchester Square is one of the one of the smaller but better preserved Georgian garden squares in central London.

• The fourth Duke of Manchester, after whom the Square takes its name, obtained the ground lease from the Portman Estate for most of the north side and employed Robert Adam and others to build on the land. 
• It was first laid out between 1776 and 1788. 
• Lots of great Georgian architecture to sketch.

Hertford House - home of the Wallace Collection

The first house to be completed was Manchester House, in 1776. This is now known as Hertford House (Listed Grade II) see picture above

The Wallace Collection is housed in Hertford House - which is also worth sketching for those who like sketching the exteriors of buildings best

• The House was the home of the Marquess of Hertford - the 2nd Marquess acquired the lease in 1797 and was lived in by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Marquess and the Richard Wallace the 4th Marquess's illegitimate son.
• Hertford House is now home to the Hertford family’s fabulous collection of fine and decorative arts. It was left to the nation in 1897 by Lady Wallace.
• It has since become known as the Wallace Collection.

The Collection and exhibition rooms are on three floors of Hertford House. This is the link to the Floor Plan. The collection comprises:

• pictures and miniatures
• ceramics
• an absolutely AMAZING collection of arms and armour (better than the Tower of London!) 
• an important collection of French furniture
• a sculpture collection some 500 works
• a collection of various objects d'art focusing on metalwork

However one of the most attractive features of the Wallace Collection are views within the interior rooms.

Wallace Collection Floor Plan - Click the image to see a larger size

Afterwards, those of us who enjoy a cup of tea will hopefully be able to get one at the Cafe on the ground floor (the green section on the map). If you pipe up at the beginning if you are planning to stay on at the end I'll endeavour to book us a table.

Cream tea at the Wallace Collection by Katherine Tyrrell

Let's Draw the Wallace Collection 20 February 2016