With over half a million incredible artworks in its collection, the Fitzwilliam Museum is one of the most impressive regional museums in Europe. The venerable museum presents world history and art from as far back as 2500 BC to the present day. It is known for its remarkable collections from the ancient world, with artefacts from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Cyprus and the near east. Located in the heart of Cambridge, the museum is one of the most iconic buildings to define the cityscape, its monumental neo-classic facade and columns just a short walk away from the central colleges and the River Cam. The museum was founded in 1816 by the seventh Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion, who bequeathed his vast collections of art, music and books to the University of Cambridge. Viscount Fitzwilliam felt strongly that the university should have its own museum, not only for the display of works of art, but also with its own library. A grand sum of £100,000 was provided to build an “unforgettable monument”, a university museum which would be a place of learning as well as one of the most magnificent galleries of its day. A keen collector throughout his life, Fitzwilliam’s passion for art began at home in his family’s collections; amongst his bequest of 144 pictures were fine Dutch paintings inherited from his maternal grandfather. To this he added exceptional Renaissance masterpieces he had purchased by Titian, Veronese and Palma Vecchio which form the basis of the museum’s fine art collection today. The museum building was opened to the public in 1848 and since then the Fitzwilliam has continued to grow both in size and collections. Today the museum has one of the finest collections of paintings, drawings and prints in Britain, with famous works by Rubens, Breughel, Constable, Monet and Picasso to name but a few.
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Address:
Trumpington Street
Cambridge
CB2 1RB
Telephone:
+44 (0)1223 332900
Website:
www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk
This museum has got a bit of everything - great paintings, including some of our favourite Pre-Raphaelites, really good sculptures, armour and weaponry, fantastic architecture of the building itself, ceramics, furniture and cabinetry, and a sofa designed by Rossetti. The star of the show for us was the building itself - mosaic floors, decorated ceilings, very convincing ‘marble’ columns (they are actually plaster, painted to look like marble), a fantastic array of statues - the whole place is exquisite.
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Anne M -
23-07-2024
Some amazing artwork. Loved the impressionist paintings and magnificent hall as well as the Impressive Egyptian and Greek expositions.
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Dorothy H -
26-05-2021
Art museum. A pretty respectable collection, not filled with famous works of arts, but focusing more in the academic difference among styles and cultures. The ceramic collection is awesome.
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Felix Salazar -
02-12-2016
