Tiffany Jenkins argues that the Burrell Collection should stick with the wishes of its original donor and not go on tour.
Tampering with Sir William Burrell’s last request may jeopardise the possibility of philanthropic gestures in the future, writes Tiffany Jenkins
The Burrell Collection in Glasgow is a tranquil place, a visit to which is restorative. The gallery contains superb works of art and artefacts – over 8,000 objects – including paintings from Degas, Whistler and Cezanne. They hang alongside glorious medieval stained-glass, sculptures and tapestries, next to art from northern Europe, and fine Chinese ceramics, bronzes and jades, as well as Japanese prints. There is even the matrimonial bed-head that belonged to King Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves.
The eclectic nature of the collection, and the exceptional quality of many of the works, are not the only reasons why the gallery is special. It remains, for the most part, a quiet and peaceful space, arranged to allow one to muse without being disturbed by noise, interactive gadgets, and labels that talk down to you, which is all too common in other cultural centres.
Tampering with Sir William Burrell’s last request may jeopardise the possibility of philanthropic gestures in the future, writes Tiffany Jenkins
The Burrell Collection in Glasgow is a tranquil place, a visit to which is restorative. The gallery contains superb works of art and artefacts – over 8,000 objects – including paintings from Degas, Whistler and Cezanne. They hang alongside glorious medieval stained-glass, sculptures and tapestries, next to art from northern Europe, and fine Chinese ceramics, bronzes and jades, as well as Japanese prints. There is even the matrimonial bed-head that belonged to King Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves.
The eclectic nature of the collection, and the exceptional quality of many of the works, are not the only reasons why the gallery is special. It remains, for the most part, a quiet and peaceful space, arranged to allow one to muse without being disturbed by noise, interactive gadgets, and labels that talk down to you, which is all too common in other cultural centres.