We visit the Wallace Collection, a free public art
collection in Manchester Square north of Oxford Street.
The building, Hertford House, provides the
focal point of this eighteenth century garden square. Each room in this
eclectic museum is distinctively different. It houses treasures that include
arms and armour, furniture, glassware and ceramics. Other interesting buildings
in the area include St James RC Church, and the Chiltern Firehouse.
The day is free of charge, no need to book, just turn up
with your art kit.
The Wallace
Collection ask that drawing should be done with the following dry materials
only: pencils, coloured pencils and graphite sticks.
Wallace Collection (exterior) at the head of the post, by Sasala Wickramasinghe, and Wallace Collection (interior) above, by Nicky Browne.
Key times and meeting points for the day:
11 am: Meet inside the Wallace Collection building in
Porphyry Court on the lower ground floor.
Please ensure your art kit does not include sharp tools such as scissors
or craft knives.
Allow time to check in
bulky coats and bags in the cloakroom.
A
floorplan of the Wallace Collection can be downloaded from
their website.
1 pm: Meet again at the Porphyry Court to look at drawings
done so far.
3.30 pm: Meet again at the Porphyry Court.
We will look at drawings done, and take group
photographs either there or nearby, depending how crowded it is.
Options for drawing:
The Wallace Collection is housed in Hertford House in
Manchester Square W1. It was built as a family house for the Marquesses of
Hertford. The last owner bequeathed it on condition that the collection would
stay intact; no items in the collection could be sold or loaned.
It is a large collection of decorative arts, old masters,
arms and armour collected in 30 galleries. The fall of the French monarchy
enabled the family to buy many significant treasures of many sorts including
porcelain. There are several well known works of art in the collection: Franz
Hals' Laughing Cavalier is one surprise. Another is Fragonard's Girl on a
Swing.
The State Rooms have been restored to their near original
décor. The open courtyard is now a roofed coffee bar and restaurant, called
Cafe Bagatelle after one of the Marquises’ Chateau Bagatelle (shown above, sketch by Sasala Wickramasinghe).
There is a free tour of highlights of the collection at 2.30
pm.
Immediately behind the Wallace Collection, in Spanish Place,
is the Neo-Gothic St James RC Church (photograph above). Designed by Edward Goldie, completed in
1890, we are welcome to draw the complex and stunning interior.
Weather permitting, nearby Chiltern Street has the
extraordinary Manchester Square Fire Station designed by Robert Pearsall and
completed in 1889 (photograph above, drawing below, by Nicky Browne).
Known now as The Chiltern Firehouse, it is a
luxury hotel and restaurant. As there is a waiting list for the waiting list,
don't expect to pop in for lunch. The Chiltern Firehouse is too closely furnished and busy to be an interior drawing option, but the outside is stunning.
Practical information:
The Wallace Collection is at Hertford House, Manchester Square,
London W1U 3BN.
It is a national museum
with free admission to the permanent collection.
The opening hours are 10 am to 5 pm.
There is a cloakroom, café, toilets and a
shop.
The
Wallace Collection website is
informative. Manchester Square is
located near Oxford Street and the nearest station is Bond Street. Also close
are Marble Arch or Baker Street.
There are several cafes, interesting pubs and independent
shops nearby.
It is also close to the
busy local shopping street: Marylebone High Street.
This day is run by Nicky Browne and Sasala Wickramasinghe,
sketches and photographs are also by them.
Let's draw the Wallace Collection - Saturday 15 February 2020
