Wallace Collection review
Honest to God... the rooms wouldn't look out of place at Buckingham Palace — that is how beautiful they are. The next set of rooms were full of religious treasures. If you've ever been to see the stained glass windows and church exhibits at the V&A then this will be right up your street. The darkened cabinets have got caskets and candlesticks and delicate little reliquaries with the bones of saints inside (chicken bones, more like). There are paintings of angels, glass goblets and altar pieces, and illuminated pages from biblical texts. It's all very beautiful and it's just a shame that I don't believe in God. (I am willing to suspend my disbelief for fifteen minutes when I see a room like this though.)
Upstairs is more like a traditional gallery, with beautiful rooms full of oil paintings. I'm a bit of a dunce when it comes to art (my favourite artist is Tony Hart), but even I recognised names like Gainsborough, Titian, Reynolds, Rembrandt and Rubens. They've got an entire room full of Canalettos as well. (I think he's probably my favourite artist actually -- sorry Tony Hart.) I like his ones of London that I saw in the Tate, but these ones all seem to be of Venice.
Just when you think it can't get any better you walk into a suite of rooms where Wallace had his study and drawing room. These are definitely on a par with a royal palace — there is no question about it. Where did this guy get all his money from? You can't call this place an art gallery, or a museum, or a royal home — it is all three things rolled into one. And do you know what the most amazing thing about this gallery is? It's free! What do you think?Please leave a comment
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