Name: Tate Britain
Address: Millbank, London SW1P 4RG, UK
Telephone: 020 7887 8888
Rating: 4.7

Imposing gallery with historic and contemporary British art, notable for its JMW Turner collection.

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Tate Britain, originally known as the National Gallery of British Art, opened its doors to the public in 1897.

Opening Year

The museum's existence is thanks to Sir Henry Tate, a 19th-century sugar merchant who donated his art collection and a significant sum of money to the government.

Sugar Tycoon

Tate Britain boasts a world-class collection of works by J.M.W. Turner, including his entire personal collection, which he bequeathed to the nation.

Turner's Legacy

In 2021, Tate Britain welcomed over 525,000 visitors, making it one of the most popular art museums in the UK.

Visitor Count

The Clore Gallery, added in 1987, houses the world's finest collection of works by J.M.W. Turner.

Turner's Home

Tate Britain's collection spans centuries, showcasing British art from the Tudor period to the present day.

Historical Scope

Tate Britain

Tate Britain, situated on Millbank in London, stands as the national gallery of British art from 1500 to the present day. Unlike its sister gallery, Tate Modern, it dedicates itself solely to British artists and art history. A fascinating, often overlooked aspect is its original purpose: it was initially conceived as a gallery of British art and a home for works by modern foreign artists, but the latter collection eventually outgrew the space, leading to the creation of Tate Modern. The gallery's collection includes an unparalleled assembly of works by J.M.W. Turner, bequeathed to the nation, necessitating a dedicated Turner Wing. Beyond the celebrated masterpieces, Tate Britain also houses an extensive archive of British art, including sketchbooks, letters, and photographs, offering invaluable insights into the creative processes of British artists. Its Rex Whistler Restaurant, adorned with a remarkable mural, is a unique feature, providing a glimpse into the artistic tastes of a bygone era. The gallery's focus extends beyond painting and sculpture, encompassing performance art, film, and installation, reflecting the evolving landscape of British artistic expression.

Introduction

Tate Britain stands on Millbank, a site formerly occupied by Millbank Prison. This location places it within the City of Westminster in London. The gallery's Thames-facing entrance was reopened as part of a major renovation, enhancing its connection to the river. The Millbank Millennium Pier, located immediately outside Tate Britain, facilitates access via a river bus service connecting it to Tate Modern.

Accessibility to Tate Britain via various transportation methods is influenced by its Millbank location. Cycle hire docking stations are situated nearby on Millbank Tower and Rampayne Street. Bus routes, including the 87, stop directly on Millbank, while routes 88 and C10 stop on John Islip Street. The closest train stations are Vauxhall and Victoria, and tube access is available at Pimlico, Vauxhall, and Westminster.

The building's architecture reflects its historical context on Millbank. The front part of the building, designed by Sidney R. J. Smith, features a classical portico and dome. The Clore Gallery, designed by James Stirling, is also part of the Tate Britain complex on Millbank. The location has presented challenges, including flood damage from the River Thames. A dedicated schools' entrance and reception are located beneath the entrance steps on Millbank.

Millbank Location

Tate Britain stands as the national gallery of British art from 1500 to the present day, offering the most comprehensive collection of its kind worldwide. Its holdings trace the evolution of artistic expression within the United Kingdom, showcasing works from the Tudor period to contemporary creations. The gallery's extensive collection provides a unique opportunity to study the trajectory of British art history through firsthand observation.

The museum houses a substantial collection of works by J. M. W. Turner, a cornerstone of British Romanticism, who bequeathed his personal collection to the nation. Beyond Turner, the permanent collection features prominent British artists such as David Hockney, Peter Blake, and Francis Bacon, representing key movements and styles within British art history.

Tate Britain plays a role in shaping contemporary British art through the annual Turner Prize exhibition, highlighting emerging talents and sparking dialogue about the current state of artistic practice. The museum also organizes career retrospectives of British artists and temporary major exhibitions, offering in-depth explorations of individual oeuvres and thematic trends. Every three years, the gallery stages a Triennial exhibition, inviting a guest curator to provide an overview of contemporary British art. These initiatives contribute to the ongoing narrative of British art history, positioning Tate Britain as a dynamic center for both preservation and innovation.

British Art History

Tate Britain houses a substantial collection of works by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851), who bequeathed his collection to the nation. As one of the country’s greatest painters, Turner's unique brushwork and use of color led him to be described as the ‘father of modern art.’

The gallery dedicates eight rooms to JMW Turner, including "JMW Turner: Rise to Fame," showcasing his emergence as a star, and "Turner and his Critics," which examines the reactions to his paintings when they were first exhibited. "Cataloguing Turner's Bequest" presents a selection of works on paper from the Turner Bequest, while "Experiments on Canvas" displays celebrated examples of Turner’s boundary-pushing late style. "Toil and Terror at Sea" explores Turner's fascination with the darker side of maritime life, and "Travels in Europe" presents Europe through Turner's eyes. The Clore Gallery, designed by James Stirling, specifically houses work by J. M. W. Turner.

Turner studied at the Royal Academy of Arts from 1789 and exhibited his first work there at 15. He opened his own gallery in 1804 and became professor of perspective at the academy in 1807, where he lectured until 1828. Turner left behind more than 550 oil paintings, 2,000 watercolours, and 30,000 works on paper.

J.M.W. Turner Collection

Tate Britain plays a central role in the Turner Prize, serving as the primary venue for the award ceremony in alternating years. The museum hosts an exhibition showcasing the work of the shortlisted artists, typically opening in late October and remaining on view until January. Although the prize is officially judged on the body of work for which the artist was nominated, and not specifically the Tate show, the exhibition provides significant public exposure for the nominees.

In 2007, for the first time in its history, the Turner Prize was held outside of London, at Tate Liverpool, in support of Liverpool being the European Capital of Culture in 2008. Concurrently, Tate Britain held an exhibition of previous winners. Stephen Deuchar, director of Tate Britain, served as the chair for the jury in 2008.

The appointment of Nicholas Serota as Tate Director led to changes, including prioritizing modern and contemporary art, and he was the Chair of the jury from 1988 until 2006. Some Turner Prize winners, such as Chris Ofili, Anish Kapoor and Jeremy Deller, later became trustees of the Tate.

Turner Prize

Tate Britain's architectural journey reflects evolving design philosophies, beginning with Sidney R. J. Smith's classical portico and dome, which defined its initial grandeur. The central sculpture gallery, conceived by John Russell Pope, further solidified its traditional architectural identity. A significant addition came in 1987 with the Clore Gallery, designed by James Stirling, to house the works of J.M.W. Turner. This structure is a noted example of Postmodern architecture, employing contextual irony through its facade, which subtly references the adjacent building in its materials and detailing.

The building's Grade II* listed status, granted in 1970, acknowledges its architectural significance and historical importance. Later renovations, completed in 2013 by Caruso St John, introduced nine new galleries with reinforced flooring to accommodate large sculptures. These renovations also included the reopening of the Thames-facing entrance and the addition of a new spiral staircase beneath the rotunda, enhancing visitor access and experience. The reopening of the rotunda's circular balcony, which had been closed since the 1920s, marked a restoration of the building's original architectural features. These modifications blend contemporary design with the historical fabric of the building, showcasing an evolution in architectural approach while preserving its heritage.

Tate Britain

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Opening Year

Sugar Tycoon

Turner's Legacy

Visitor Count

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