‘Burrell at Bonhams – An exhibition of masterpieces from the Burrell Collection, Glasgow’, Bonhams, 101 New Bond Street, London W1, 15th December 2014 – 9th January, 2015.
It comes as a surprise to think that it was in 1983 that the Burrell Collection opened in its specially designed building in Pollok Country Park and now is in need of a major refurbishment and redisplay.
The collection, which took Sir William Burrell some eighty years to create, has over nine thousand objects (antiquities, objects, tapestries and paintings) in it and ranks highly among the world’s great personal collections. When Sir William and his wife gave the collection to the City of Glasgow in 1944 he specified that items were not to be loaned for exhibition overseas, since as a shipping magnate he was aware of the possibility of damage in transit. It therefore took a bill approved by the Scottish Parliament in January of this year to allow for the first international tour, of which this exhibition is the prelude.
There are forty-five star items on show, including a 1632 Rembrandt self-portrait, Cezanne’s Chateau of Medan, and the bed head of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves, dated 1539, whose decoration includes erotic scenes. Other outstanding pieces are the falconry set of James IV and a Korean Celadon tea bowl. I can only recommend this show to you and suggest that you make an effort to see these wonderful items.
Opening times:
15 December 2014 to 9 January 2015, 9.00am-5.30pm
(Closed weekends and from 24 December – 4 January)
Admission is free.
#BurrellatBonhams
http://www.bonhams.com
http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/…/burrell-collection