Tate Britain in London Sings “Rule, Britannia!”Tate Britain in London is a museum to make sure to see. Dedicated to all things British, it charts the course of British art history from 1500 onwards.
Located in Millbank, on the site of Millbank Prison, it opened in 1897 as the National Gallery of British Art. It quickly became known as the Tate Gallery, due to its benefactor Sir Henry Tate. The gallery was renamed “Tate Britain” in 2000 when Tate Modern was established, and their international modern art holdings were moved to the new location. Tate Britain has the most comprehensive and in depth collection of British art in the world. Famous works such as “Ophelia” by John Everett Millais can be seen here. There are many works by Francis Bacon, Henry Moore, and Thomas Gainsborough to see, as well. William Blake, John Constable, and JMW Turner are of special attention here, they each have an area dedicated to their work. There is Tudor portraiture, collections of landscape paintings, Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces, and works by the Bloomsbury Group. There are many modern and contemporary British artists represented here as well, such as John Latham, Sam Taylor-Wood, and Tracey Emin. The Turner Prize is given out by Tate Britain. It is the most famous prize awarded for contemporary art, although it is a somewhat notorious one. Much controversy has surrounded this prize; everything from the funding to the very idea of awarding a prize for art has been questioned over the years. As it stands, the Turner Prize seems to be more about shock value and making a statement than simply about art, but given that much of art is meant to provoke a reaction, perhaps that is for the best. Visiting Tate Britain is an enjoyable trip; it is housed in a lovely old building with lots to look at in the vicinity. Although this museum is sometimes seen as the plainer older sister to the sexy new Tate Modern, its collections are equally as impressive and its setting is just as magnificent. It has an elegance and style which make it uniquely British. Tate Britain in London is an absolute must see.
Tate Britain Address: Millbank, Westminster, SW1P 4RG Telephone: 020 7887 8008 Opening Times 10am-5.45pm | Last admission 5pm. First Friday of each month 6pm-10pm. Pricing Adult FREE, Child FREE | Special exhibitions prices vary. Photo courtesy: jimmyharris
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