In London: art beyond the Tate ; Galleries with ambience and intimacy beckon visitors after they've hit the popular museum of modern art ALL Edition

• Published in: The Christian Science monitor (1983)
• Main Author: Susan Jaques Special to The Christian Science Monitor
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, Mass The Christian Science Publishing Society (d/b/a "The Christian Science Monitor"), trusteeship under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 30.04.2002
• Subjects: Architecture; Art galleries & museums; London England; Tourism; United Kingdom > UK; London England
• ISSN: 0882-7729; 2166-3262

The Lords Hertford were Francophiles. Stepping inside Hertford House is like stepping inside a chateau, replete with 17th- and 18th- century French paintings, gold boxes, Sevres porcelain vases, and Boulle marquetry furniture of engraved brass on tortoiseshell. Visitors will recognize several of the most famous paintings: Rembrandt's "The Artist's Son Titus," Frans Hals's "The Laughing Cavalier," and Jean-Honore Fragonard's "The Swing." Called "the most beautiful small art gallery in the world" by the Daily Telegraph, the Dulwich Picture Gallery is an easy 12-minute train ride from Victoria Station. Its 17th- and 18th-century old masters were originally intended for the king of Poland. Like the Marquesses of Hertford, art dealers Noel Desenfans and Sir Francis Bourgeois acquired paintings from aristocrats liquidating art during the French Revolution. But before the works could get to Poland, the country was partitioned by Russia, leaving the dealers with a homeless royal collection. More treasures await at the Courtauld Institute Gallery in the Strand block, former home of the Royal Academy. Samuel Courtauld was chairman of the famous textile company founded by his family in the 19th century. His collection of world- famous Impressionist and Post- Impressionist paintings by notables like Monet, Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Seurat, are located on the second floor. On the first floor are Botticelli's "The Trinity," sketches by Tiepolo, [Van Dyck] portraits, and the Rubens room. A special drawing exhibition featuring such artists as Cezanne, Rembrandt, and Rubens runs through June 9.