British architecture

The museum is famous for Egyptian mummies of kings, queens and their servants. 

In the centre of the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery is the Rosetta Stone, which dates from 195 BC and is inscribed the texts which enabled scholars to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics. The Rosetta Stone was the key to understand ancient Egyptian picture writing. 

The museum has probably the world's greatest collection of historic and literary manuscripts: dating from the 4^th century Codex Sinaiaticus (one of the world's oldest and most important bibles), the first printed book. “The Diamond Sutra”, dated May AD 868, two surviving copies of Magna carta, 1215, etc. 

The Queen's Gallery 

Buckingham Gate.

Underground: Victoria 

Although Buckingham Palace is only open in August and September, you can visit the Queen's Gallery at the rear of the building all year. This is housed in a temple-like structure that was originally built as a garden conservatory, then converted to the palace chapel in 1893 and finally turned into an art gallery in 1962. Here you can see exhibitions of paintings, drawings and furniture drawn from the vast Royal Collection, including works by Rubens, Rembrandt and Canaletto, as well as watercolours painted by Queen Victoria. The works on display are changed every six months or so.  

The Royal Academy of Arts 

Piccadilly.

Underground: Green Park, Piccadilly Circus.

Burlington House, Piccadilly's most imposing building was built as a Palladian-style mansion for the Earl of Burlington around 1720. Today it is the home of the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts whose members include many well-known British artists and architects. The building is used for major art exhibitions, which change regularly but are always very popular, since they feature masterpieces of art on loan from museums and collections around the world. The main exhibition room is decorated with Michelangelo's Madonna and Child with the infant St. John, a circular relief carved in marble in 1504 - 1505 and considered to be one of the most beautiful works.  

The Courtland Gallery

The Strand.

Underground: Temple. 

Some of the world's most famous Impressionist paintings are to be seen in the treasure-filled Courtland Gallery. The core of the collection was put together by the textile magnate Samuel Courtland. 

He gave his pictures to the institute that bears his name in 1931, to provide students of art history with outstanding works that they could study. In 1990 the collection expanded by the pictures belonging to the art critic Roger Fly moved to the rooms of the Strand Block at Somerset House. 

Significant works from the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo periods are all housed in chronological order. From Tiepolo to Toulouse-Lautrec and from Gainsborough to Gauguin, 45 Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, pictures by Veronese, Giorgione, outstanding examples of Dutch, Flemish and German painting are housed in the Gallery. No resident or visitor to London should miss the opportunity of seeing this unique art collection. 

The Dulwich Picture Gallery, “London's Most Perfect Art Gallery” 

Gallery Road.

Train from Victoria Station to West Dulwich. 

The Gallery, with its outstanding collection of Old Master painting, is one of the most unexpected and most beautiful galleries in England. The holdings include works mostly by the 17^th-century masters - Poussin, Claude, Rubens, Van Dyck, Teniers, Murillo, Rembrandt, Hobbema and Lely. The 18^th century is represented by Hogarth, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Watteau, Tiepolo, Canaletto. The building was designed in 1811 by Sir John Soane. 

Whitechapel Art Gallery 

Whitechapel High Street.

Underground: Aldgate East. 

This gallery in the East End has acquired an international reputation for its provocative exhibitions of modern art. The material on show changes regularly but features the work of big hame artists from all over the world working in all media. 

Hogarth's House 

Hogarth Lane, to the north of Chiswick House. 

William Hogarth used this house as his summer residence between 1749 and 1764 and the simple rooms are hung with copies of his satirised engravings, including the famous “Marriage a la Mode” of 1745 and “A Rake's Progress” of 1735. 

VI. Check yourself how well you've remembered the names of art galleries and museums and their collections. 

1. What gallery is famous for its collection of Old Masters?
2. What gallery offers its visitors exhibitions of modern art?
3. Where can the greatest exhibition of Impressionist painting be seen?
4. What masterpiece is the Royal Academy of Arts proud of?
5. Are there any art galleries in the East End?
6. When can you visit The Queen's Gallery in Buckingham Palace?
7. Which museum is considered to be the national museum of archaeology and ethnography?
8. Which museum is called “a vast box of delights”?
9. Where is the Rosetta Stone kept?
10. Where is the spectacular collection of furniture represented?
11. Which museum houses sculpture, furniture, fashion textile, paintings, silver, glass, ceramics, jewellery, books, prints and photographs and spans 4.000 years?
12. Which museum includes two collections in one: British art and international modern art?
13. Which gallery is called “Who is who” gallery?
14. Where can you see portraits of monarchs, politicians, writers, artists an scientists?
15. What gallery is situated in the north side of Trafalgar Square?
16. What gallery is tucked away at the back of the National Gallery?
17. Where can you see the copies of famous engravings by W. Hogarth?
18. Which gallery contains the richest collection of European painting?