Dulwich Picture Gallery is an art gallery in Dulwich, London. It was the world's first purpose-built art gallery and opened in 1817. Its basic architecture of a series of interlinked rooms lit by overhead skylights has been the primary influence on art gallery design ever since.
It was founded by a bequest from Sir Francis Bourgeois, who on his death in 1811 bequeathed his collection of art to Dulwich College together with £2,000 for the building of a gallery to house them in.
One of the conditions of the bequest was that the gallery should be designed by Bourgeois' friend, the architect Sir John Soane.
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Last updated: 10-29-2005 02:13:46
