The Wallace Collection, London: A hideout from the chaos of Oxford Street

Tucked just behind Oxford Street’s Selfridges in Manchester Square, London, the Wallace Collection is an oasis of calm. This beautiful London town house opened to the public in 1900 and holds work once belonging to the first four marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace. Their interests included armour and weaponry, the Old Masters and a fine collection of French 18th Century works, including paintings, furniture and porcelain.

Regarding the permanent collection, the armour gallery is one of the most important in Britain due to its sheer size. It predominantly displays works of Persian, Turkish and Indian origin, dating from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries. However, the finale to the room, a spectacular gothic piece of equestrian armour, is of European creation. It consists of a horse in the process of rearing, its rider hanging on for dear life whilst brandishing a sword- incredibly menacing.

The most well known of the old master’s in the collection is Franz Hals’ The Laughing Cavalier painted in the Netherlands in 1624. The nickname was given to this piece by the Victorian public, despite the fact the sitter is barely smiling! The identity of the man and the reason for the painting’s commission is unknown, although it has been suggested that it is a betrothal portrait as the Cavalier’s jacket has images of lovers’ knots and arrows. The use of bright, but limited colour and long quick brushstrokes effectively capture the different textures of his silk outfit with a lace collar. It is definitely worth seeing, even if you just want to test popular legend by checking to see if his eyes follow you around the room!

Fragonard’s The Swing best encapsulates the eighteenth century French rococo style in the collection. Painted in France in 1767 this erotic piece depicts the mistress of an anonymous courtly gentleman on a swing, while he sits underneath looking up her skirt! The pastel colours create an atmosphere which some may find a little sickly sweet, whilst the lack of morals were clearly a cause for concern during the fall of the ancien regime and the French Revolution. Enlightenment philosophers called for a different style of art, depicting humans at their most noble, this frivolity in subject matter was not to last much longer.

To round off your trip, a visit to the cafe is recommended. The cafe and restaurant are  situated in an unusual courtyard with a glass roof. The food is delicious but the service quite slow- a good opportunity for a nice long sit down!

The Wallace Collection comes up trumps from every angle – free admission both to the museum and its exhibitions, an eclectic mix of pieces ensuring something for everyone’s taste, and a snack at its pretty cafe to finish the day will leave everyone feeling content.