If you’re considering a visit to Bournemouth then something that might spark your interest is the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum. The museum is a local hotspot for art fans. It’s got a huge collection of artwork. It is a historical structure of architectural heritage in and of itself, going back to 1897.
Originally commissioned by Sir Merton Russell Cotes, a previous mayor of Bournemouth and developed by the distinguished designer John Frederick Fogerty, the building is created in the Celtic motivated Art-Noveau style, which preceded and partially motivated Art-Deco in the 20th century. Russell-Cotes is likewise historically exceptional in that it was originally designed with art-exhibition in mind, making it among the couple of art museums housed in a heritage site created for the function that still shows initial works in its collection.
Sir Russell-Cotes was a strong fan of female artists, and the museum’s initial collection reflects this with portraits by Lady Violet Manners, including a portrait of the well known author and poet Rudyard Kipling, paintings by the pioneering Swiss Neoclassical artist Angelica Kauffmann and sculptures by Kennett Kathleen Shaw.
The founding collection likewise consists of 173 works by Edwin Landseer, understood for his animal portraits, historic scenes and sculptures. Especially noteworthy is his 1860 painting Highland Flood’ which illustrates a biblically suggestive gathering of individuals and animals nestling on a home roof from a devastating flood in the Scottish Highlands.
After the second world war, the museum obtained Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s masterpiece Venus of Venticordia. Russell-Cotes art museum also has Albert Moore’s prominent pre-Raphaelite work Midsummer on display screen.
One of the collections that is show in the exhibits is that of Merton Russel-Cotes’ and his personal tastes. On their way around the globe, Russell-Coates and his spouse got many regional paintings and artifacts consisting of a comprehensive collection of Japanese Noh masks and ritualistic shrines which are also on display screen throughout the museum.
They were no supporters of the impressionist movement and no such works were gathered by him personally. However, the collections were consequently broadened to include modern art from the post war period and beyond, with a focus on local artists from the Bournemouth area, most notably Leslie Moffatt-Ward and his painting A Dorset Landscape, influenced by the Bloomsbury Group, a progressive early 20th century cumulative that included Roger Fry, who was affected by post-impressionism.
If you feel intimidated by the stretching collection, there are free guided tours offered. There is likewise a constant rotation of exhibits, workshops and trips.
Those with a love for plants and decorative gardening will also value the gorgeous yards, ponds and Japanese-inspired garden outside.
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