Cambridge 2020/21
10
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Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RB
01223 332900
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.
THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM
