Burrell in Berwick: the Missing Pictures

Edgar Degas: Danseuses Russes. North East Museums on behalf of Northumberland County Council.

Works from the Burrell Collection are currently on display in the Granary Gallery, Berwick , Dewars Lane TD151HJ Opening hours 31st Oct -21st Feb 2027 Weds – Sun 11 -4pm. Entrance is free.

Sir William Burrell, the wealthy Glasgow shipowner and celebrated art collector, formed one of Britain’s most remarkable private collections. Although the greater part of it was eventually given to Glasgow, Burrell also made an important gift to Berwick-upon-Tweed, close to Hutton Castle, his home in the Borders. His Berwick donation included around fifty paintings as well as several hundred pieces of decorative art and porcelain.

The paintings reflect Burrell’s wide-ranging taste. They include works by British and European artists, particularly from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Burrell was especially interested in skilful draughtsmanship, atmospheric landscapes and intimate scenes of everyday life. His collection as a whole demonstrates a strong appreciation of French art and of Scottish painters, including artists associated with the Glasgow School.

The Berwick paintings are significant not simply because of their individual quality, but because they reveal Burrell’s approach to collecting. He bought works that appealed to his own highly developed eye rather than following fashion alone. His gift was also an act of civic generosity. Burrell believed that important works of art should be publicly accessible, and his donation considerably strengthened Berwick’s museum collection. Today the paintings remain an important cultural legacy linking Berwick with one of Britain’s greatest collectors.

Unfortunately, the Granary Gallery has only enough room to show half of the paintings in the collection. This talk, by Ray Clarke, will focus on the paintings not included in the exhibition.

No previous knowledge of the topic is assumed, and all are welcome. Tea and coffee will be served. There is no need to print out and bring your ticket, as we will have a record of your booking.

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