A Gallery Talks art tour of the magnificent Wellington Collection at Apsley House, Piccadilly, London, home to the Dukes of Wellington.

Apsley House is the only historic London mansion to retain the majority of its contents, a circumstance which creates a unique opportunity; many of the works of art were purchased by the 1st Duke of Wellington and some of the finest are from the Spanish Royal Collection, which were presented to the Duke as a gift from King Ferdinand VII of Spain.

This extraordinary and internationally important art collection includes masterpieces by Titian, Correggio, Velázquez, Rubens, Bruegel and Goya. The Wellington Collection is displayed in sumptuous interiors such as the Waterloo Gallery and the Piccadilly Drawing Room which have been carefully restored to the aspect they would have worn in Wellington’s day and where the stunning paintings are densely hung.

Apsley House, also known as Number One London, has been a family home to the Dukes of Wellington since the early 19th century and visitors today have the rare experience of viewing the art collection in the rooms in which it was originally shown. The house, together with a large part of its contents, was presented to the nation in 1947 as a gift from the 7th Duke of Wellington and, whilst the family retain apartments in part of the house, the museum is now cared for and run by English Heritage.

If you have any questions please contact me.