Dulwich Picture Gallery

Dulwich Picture Gallery England's first public art gallery Our next exhibition, Yoshida: Three Generations of Printmaking opens 19 June.
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Dulwich Picture Gallery is the world’s first purpose-built public art gallery: it was founded in 1811 when Sir Francis Bourgeois RA bequeathed his collection of old masters “for the inspection of the public”. Today the Gallery is a vibrant cultural hub hosting some of the UK’s leading exhibitions alongside its Permanent Collection of Baroque masterpieces while staging a wide-ranging programme of public events, practical art and community engagement.

Have you explored Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious with Tamsin Greig’s narration yet? 🎧Step into Tirzah Garwood’s world ...
06/02/2025

Have you explored Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious with Tamsin Greig’s narration yet? 🎧

Step into Tirzah Garwood’s world with the incredible Tamsin Greig, who lends her unmistakable voice to our audio guide on the Bloomberg Connects app.

Featuring heartfelt readings from Tirzah’s autobiography (Long Live Great Bardfield) and expert insights from curator James Russell, this guide offers a deeply personal journey through her life and art. Whether you're visiting the Gallery or listening from home, it’s an unmissable way to connect with her story.

Don’t forget to experience Tamsin’s narration in the exhibition’s mausoleum—a moment that truly brings Tirzah’s voice to life.

📲 Download Bloomberg Connects via the link in our bio and immerse yourself anytime, anywhere.

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Our Wedding Showcase is in just a few weeks on February 22, 2025. Join us for a day of wedding inspiration at one of Lon...
06/02/2025

Our Wedding Showcase is in just a few weeks on February 22, 2025. Join us for a day of wedding inspiration at one of London’s most iconic venues. Whether you're newly engaged or deep into planning, this is your chance to explore our spaces and meet an incredible lineup of suppliers, including:

🌸 Florals & Styling: Filth, Fleur De La Couture, Yolly Flowers
💍 Jewellery & Fashion: Catherine Marche, TwentyTwo Bridal
📸 Photography & Film: Cat Arwell Photo, Hanhmade Films, David Jenkins
📜 Calligraphy & Stationery: Blue Pumpkin Calligraphy, Calleo Book
🎨 Live Art & Entertainment: Lucie Sheridan Booth, DJ 4 Me, Confetti Club Ldn
🍰 Food & Sweet Treats: Dinner Ladies, Indulgent Sugar Plum, Sugar & Stories Ldn
💄 Beauty & Styling: Olivia Mills Makeup
💫 Event Experts & Planning: Akilah & Co, Celebrant Kathryn, Raj Tents

📍 Just 15 minutes from central London, Dulwich Picture Gallery is the perfect blend of history, charm, and elegance for your big day. Don’t miss this opportunity to envision your dream wedding and connect with top industry professionals!

Secure your spot: dpg.art/weddingshowcase

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Somaya Critchlow: The ChamberStep inside The Chamber, a one-room display featuring six brand-new commissioned works. Fro...
04/02/2025

Somaya Critchlow: The Chamber

Step inside The Chamber, a one-room display featuring six brand-new commissioned works. From striking figurative paintings to intimate sketchbooks, these pieces offer a thought-provoking dialogue with the historic paintings in the Collection that inspired them.

Critchlow draws from the dramatic narratives of Rubens, Lely, and Van Dyck, peeling back their layers to reveal hidden power dynamics.

Part of the Gallery’s Unlocking Paintings series, this show reimagines the Collection through a contemporary lens.

🎟️ Entry included with a Gallery admission ticket—book now via the link in our bio.

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Exciting changes are underway 🚧 If you're visiting us over the next few weeks, you'll notice some work happening on-site...
03/02/2025

Exciting changes are underway 🚧 If you're visiting us over the next few weeks, you'll notice some work happening on-site. As part of the Open Art project, we’re installing a ground source heat pump—a big step towards reducing our energy use. 🌿 While this means our lawns might be a little muddy for now, it’s all for a greener future.

Important access info:
🔹 The Gallery Road entrance is now closed. Please use the College Road entrance instead.
🔹 The Gallery Road car park will be closed from 3 February, but you’ll find free parking on College Road.

Thanks for your patience—we can’t wait to share these improvements with you! 💚 Want to learn more about the Open Art project? Read here: https://dpg.art/openart

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Born   in 1616, artist Sébastien Bourdon was a master of drama and detail.In this painting 'A Brawl in a Guard-room', tw...
02/02/2025

Born in 1616, artist Sébastien Bourdon was a master of drama and detail.

In this painting 'A Brawl in a Guard-room', two young men are locked in a heated fight—was it a bad hand or something more? Two older soldiers attempt to mediate, though one seems lost in memories of past battles. Meanwhile, a young boy watches, torn between curiosity and unease.

Bourdon, once a soldier himself, may have drawn on his own experiences to capture this timeless tale of conflict. Inspired by the lively, often rowdy scenes of the Bamboccianti (translates roughly as 'the clumsy ones'...) painters in Rome, he brings drama, tension, and humor to everyday life.

What do you think is going on in this painting? Tell us in the comments! 👇

🖼️ Sébastien Bourdon, A Brawl in a Guard-room, 1640s, Oil on canvas, Fairfax Murray Gift, 1911, Dulwich Picture Gallery.

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🧵 Patchwork perfection - Tirzah Garwood was a skilled dressmaker with an eye for rare and beautiful fabrics. This patchw...
31/01/2025

🧵 Patchwork perfection - Tirzah Garwood was a skilled dressmaker with an eye for rare and beautiful fabrics. This patchwork quilt, made around 1940 for her friend Peggy Angus, is one of the few surviving examples of her textile work.

This quilt, designed for a child’s cot, is built in a cross with repeated shapes that could be flames or flowers in the four panels outside the cross. Each is made up of many patches in different matching colours and patterns. The more you look, the more you see!

See it in person at ‘Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious’. Book your tickets

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One week left to enter 🎨✨ We're loving all the amazing entries for our   children's drawing prize draw—just like this fa...
30/01/2025

One week left to enter 🎨✨ We're loving all the amazing entries for our children's drawing prize draw—just like this fantastic artwork from Oliver!

The competition closes on 8 February, so there’s still time for your little artists to get creative and enter for a chance to win children's books, stationery and 2 tickets to our Family Festival on 15 February. 🎁

How to enter:
🖌 Create an artwork inspired by Tirzah Garwood
📸 Post it on Instagram with & tag
📨 Or email it to [email protected]

Don’t miss out! We can't wait to see more of your wonderful creations. 💛

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Happy Lunar New Year! 🎆🐍 It’s the Year of the Wood Snake, and what better way to celebrate than with this utterly adorab...
29/01/2025

Happy Lunar New Year! 🎆🐍

It’s the Year of the Wood Snake, and what better way to celebrate than with this utterly adorable 16th-century serpent from the workshop of Jan (Sanders) van Hemessen? Just look at that face—while it may have caused a little mischief in the Garden of Eden, can you really stay annoyed with it?

Wood Snakes are known for their precision, creativity, and sharp logic. They’re also symbols of fortune, wisdom… and, let’s be honest, a touch of cunning. Whether you see them as lucky or a little sneaky, we can all agree—this one is absolutely charming.

🖼️ Workshop of Jan (Sanders) van Hemessen, The Fall of Man, 1520-30, Oil on panel, Dulwich Picture Gallery.

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🎙️ Discover the story behind Rembrandt’s A Woman Bathing in a Stream.Our Head of Collection, Helen Hillyard, joins Cathy...
28/01/2025

🎙️ Discover the story behind Rembrandt’s A Woman Bathing in a Stream.

Our Head of Collection, Helen Hillyard, joins Cathy FitzGerald on BBC Radio 4’s Moving Pictures to explore this masterpiece in detail with some intriguing insights into our collection.

Tune in today, plus explore the full back catalogue for deep dives into some of the world’s greatest works of art! Listen here: https://dpg.art/Radio4MovingPictures

📸 Rembrandt’s Light at Dulwich Picture Gallery. Lighting by ERCO. Photography by Gavriil Papadiotis.

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Join us for a day of creative fun at our Family Festival on Sat 15 Feb 🎨 Kids go free! 👧👦Bring the whole family and dive...
23/01/2025

Join us for a day of creative fun at our Family Festival on Sat 15 Feb 🎨 Kids go free! 👧👦

Bring the whole family and dive into a day packed with play, creativity, and exploration. Here’s a taste of what’s in store:

Explore the Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious exhibition through:
🎨 Paper Marbling – Make magical prints inspired by Garwood’s work
🎭 Toy Theatre – Watch Dick Whittington & Cinderella performed live by Pollock's Toy Museum
🌟 Badge Making & Shape Art – Create unique keepsakes and learn fun art techniques

🌳 Outdoor Adventures
📚 The Museum of Memorable Trees – Listen to enchanting tree tales
🌱 Earth Tenders – Sow seeds, make microgreens, and celebrate spring

👶 For Under 5s
💫 Creative Tales with Rosie Tells Tales – Interactive storytelling sessions with songs, rhymes, movement & Makaton!

🌈 Collaborate & Create
Help build a giant, colorful art installation in the grounds with artist Alex Bowie.

This is a day for families to create together, explore art, and make memories to treasure. Don’t miss it!

Find out more and book your tickets

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Last chance to discover our display, 'Looking for Leonardo'! 🕵️‍♀️ Closing 26 January.Let’s dive into one intriguing sto...
22/01/2025

Last chance to discover our display, 'Looking for Leonardo'! 🕵️‍♀️ Closing 26 January.

Let’s dive into one intriguing story: 'Portrait of a Man' and 'Salvator Mundi' may look very different to modern eyes, but both were once thought to be by Hans Holbein, the famed portraitist of the Tudor court.

In the 19th century, when a painting’s original creator was unknown, finely detailed works from northern Europe were often attributed to Holbein by art dealers. For collectors like our founders, Desenfans and Bourgeois, uncovering the true artist behind the canvas was a daunting task.

Side by side in our exhibition, these two works reveal how challenging—and fascinating—it is to trace an artwork’s origins. Was it Leonardo? Holbein? Someone else? The answer lies in careful research, and sometimes, the mystery remains.

⏳ Don’t miss your chance to explore this captivating tale and more. Exhibition ends 26 January!

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Would you like to take part in a focus group for our upcoming exhibition by Rachel Jones? The focus group will help us f...
22/01/2025

Would you like to take part in a focus group for our upcoming exhibition by Rachel Jones? The focus group will help us find out more about our audiences' interests and shape how the exhibition is interpreted. As a thank you for your time, participants will receive a £20 online gift voucher and a pair of free tickets to our current exhibition: Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious.

The focus group will take place at Dulwich Picture Gallery on Tuesday 25 February 2025, 6pm - 7.30pm. Please complete the a form via the link below if you are interested in taking part. This will help us to ensure we have a varied group of participants. The form will be closed for entries from 5pm on 9 February.

https://dpg.art/RJonesFocusGroup

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Step into the drama of divine rivalry with Adriaen van der Werff’s masterpiece, The Judgement of Paris. Born   in 1659, ...
21/01/2025

Step into the drama of divine rivalry with Adriaen van der Werff’s masterpiece, The Judgement of Paris. Born in 1659, van der Werff was a Dutch artist celebrated for his luminous, highly detailed style popular with Europe’s elite.

The painting brings to life the fateful moment Paris (of Trojan War fame) chose Aphrodite as the fairest goddess, drawn by her promise of the love of the most beautiful women in the world. He had been asked to judge who was the fairest of three goddesses - Hera, Athena and Aphrodite.

Van der Werff's brilliance earned him fame and fortune, with this painting fetching an extraordinary sum in 1719.

See Van der Werff's The Judgement of Paris up close on our website together with our whole collection via the link in the bio.

🖼️ Adriaen van der Werff, The Judgement of Paris, 1716, Oil on panel, Bourgeois Bequest, 1811, Dulwich Picture Gallery.

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This week, young voices took centre stage as we hosted the Articulation heat at Dulwich Picture Gallery.Run by National ...
17/01/2025

This week, young voices took centre stage as we hosted the Articulation heat at Dulwich Picture Gallery.

Run by National Gallery this inspiring programme encourages young people to engage with art while developing their presentation skills. Local students wowed us with ten-minute talks on a diverse range of visual works—from Holbein’s The Ambassadors to Tracey Emin’s My Bed.

This year’s winner, Thivyan, captivated us with their talk on the Charli XCX Brat album cover. A huge congratulations to Thivyan, who will advance to the London Final!

Our adjudicators, broadcaster and author Shahidha Bari, and arts consultant Benji Kandler, brought their expertise to the task. Fun fact: Benji is an Articulation alumnus who won his heat right here at DPG back in 2016!

Well done to all participants!

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Planning on booking with us soon? Please note that on Monday 20 January our ticketing website will be down as we perform...
17/01/2025

Planning on booking with us soon? Please note that on Monday 20 January our ticketing website will be down as we perform essential maintenance. Even websites need time to recharge sometimes!

Check back on Tuesday 21 January to book tickets online, or purchase a membership.

If you’re planning a visit for Tuesday, you can purchase your tickets at our Welcome Desk on the day.

We look forward to welcoming you back online and in person very soon.

📸 Julia Hawkins

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Meet two of the founders behind Dulwich Picture Gallery: art dealer Noel Desenfans and artist Francis Bourgeois. This ch...
15/01/2025

Meet two of the founders behind Dulwich Picture Gallery: art dealer Noel Desenfans and artist Francis Bourgeois. This charming watercolour, painted around 1805, captures them deep in their quest to acquire the ultimate masterpiece—a Leonardo da Vinci.

Hunting down a da Vinci was no easy feat. With so few of his paintings surviving, sparse information to guide them, and attributions constantly changing, the search was more of a wild goose chase than a treasure hunt.

And speaking of exhausting pursuits, take a closer look at Bourgeois (on the left). He clearly took a power nap mid-mission—because, honestly, who wouldn’t after chasing down a Renaissance legend? 😴

Come and join us on this quest and dive into the story of the founders’ da Vinci dream in our display Looking for Leonardo: The Quest for a Renaissance Masterpiece, on until 26 January (nap optional).

🎟️ Entry is included with standard admission. Book your tickets now via the link in bio.

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Artworks that wouldn't look out of place in the Traitor's castle...🖼️ Simon Dubois, 1682, Elizabeth, Lady Jones🖼️ Flemis...
15/01/2025

Artworks that wouldn't look out of place in the Traitor's castle...

🖼️ Simon Dubois, 1682, Elizabeth, Lady Jones

🖼️ Flemish or British School, 17th Century, A Jester

🖼️ Arent de Gelder, c.1715, Jacob's Dream

🖼️ British School, 1644, Mrs Cartwright's Sister

🖼️ Guido Reni, c.1630-35, Saint Sebastian

🖼️ Carlo Cignani, c.1685-90, The Penitent Magdalen

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Looking for a fresh start in 2025? This is your chance to join the Dulwich Picture Gallery team. 2 days left to apply wi...
14/01/2025

Looking for a fresh start in 2025? This is your chance to join the Dulwich Picture Gallery team. 2 days left to apply with deadline on Thurs 16 January.

We're hiring for two exciting roles that offer the opportunity to make a real impact:

✨ CRM & Audience Insights Manager (Permanent, Full-Time)
Take charge of our CRM (Tessitura), audience research, and data analysis during a major website upgrade.

✨ Commercial Events Manager (Maternity Cover, Full-Time)
Lead the sales, coordination, and delivery of exceptional events at our iconic venue.

🗓 Deadline: Thursday, 16 January, 9am

Don’t miss out—find out more and apply via the link in bio!

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Gallery Road, Dulwich
London
SE217AD

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Dulwich Picture Gallery is the world’s first purpose-built public art gallery: it was founded in 1811 when Sir Francis Bourgeois RA bequeathed his collection of old masters “for the inspection of the public”. Today the Gallery is a vibrant cultural hub hosting some of the UK’s leading exhibitions alongside its Collection of Baroque masterpieces, while staging a wide-ranging programme of public events and community engagement.