Appreciating art with Westminster Venue Collection
A major exhibition of paintings by Vincent van Gogh – the largest collection of works by the artist to appear in the UK in almost a decade – closes at Tate Britain on Millbank on 11 August.
Some of van Gogh’s works may be moving on from Westminster when the EY Exhibition: Van Gogh and Britain ends, but the good news is that there will be plenty of art left to appreciate within the area, with some prominent works on display at many of Westminster Venue Collection’s prestigious and unique venues.
Whether it’s perusing a famous portrait, taking inspiration from a celebrated work, or watching today’s talented artists in action, Westminster Venue Collection is proud to represent meetings and events spaces where art from the past and present is celebrated.
The Rag – Army & Navy Club Those visiting Army & Navy Club for a meeting, conference or event, can catch a glimpse of the venue’s most prized art possession – a semi-nude painting of Nell Gwynne – among its extensive art collection. The oil painting ‘A young woman and child, as Venus and Cupid (1650-1687)’ by Peter Lely is often described as ‘Venus & Cupid’, but is widely agreed that it depicts Gwynne, the mistress of Charles II, who was rumoured to live at 36-39 Pall Mall. As well as hosting this famous portrait, the venue, originally a private club for military officers, offers opulent fine-dining facilities, sophisticated accommodation and excellent business and event spaces for up to 200 people.
The National Gallery The National Gallery holds some of the world’s greatest paintings, with works by artists such as Turner and Monet attracting visitors from around the world. The gallery, which is proud to currently be loaning Vincent van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ for the EY Exhibition, is also home to 22 different event spaces available for daytime and evening events. Event organisers choosing to host their corporate event, private party or wedding reception under the roof of this iconic Grade I listed building can be sure to give their guests the most impressively creative of backdrops, while also contributing to the conservation of a collection of over 2,300 paintings.
The London Library As well as offering numerous event spaces for hire and housing over one million books, The London Library is a major celebrant of art. The venue, spread across seven interlocking buildings in St James’s Square, currently has two artists in residence – Bob Matthews and Mark Harris. The pair began a 12-month Artists’ Residency at the venue in the spring where they intend to develop ideas and work inspired by the wealth of images buried within the books in the Library. Those visiting the venue until spring 2020 will be able to view six of their works as well as temporary displays of other artwork specially created for the Library, providing even more culture to discover in this intriguing venue.
Lincoln’s Inn Cloaked in art and history, Lincoln’s Inn offers a gallery of paintings through the ages with masterpieces that have been collected over the past 300 years. Proudly taking centre stage in the Great Hall is one of Lincoln’s Inn’s most prized possessions – one of few remaining frescos in the UK, painted by GF Watts over a period of seven years between 1852-1859. The subject, ‘Justice: A Hemicycle of Lawgivers’, chosen by Watts himself depicts great lawgivers from history overlooked by three statues: Truth, Mercy and Justice. The painting, some 45 feet wide by 40 feet tall, serves as an impressive backdrop for banquets and events for up to 400 people.
Dartmouth House Dartmouth House is adorned with artistic embellishment in almost every room. To complement the abundance of original features including a Robert Adams fireplace, stunning marble staircase and chandeliers; framed portraiture and landscape paintings line the walls. Above the venue’s grand staircase, a painted ceiling by French nineteenth century painter Pierre-Victor Galland depicts a striking mythical scene that instantly draws the eye upwards. Dartmouth House’s unique spaces can host up to 300 guests in the heart of prestigious Mayfair.
Venue Collection
Hire prestigious, unique and unusual London venues and facilities with Westminster Venue Collection.
The Westminster Venue Collection’s venues range from fashionable townhouses and private members’ clubs, to luxury hotels, celebrated attractions, historic institutes and societies.
The Inner Temple: Creating the Ultimate Office Christmas Party
The Christmas season is a time for merriment, joy and gathering. One of the highlights of the festive period is undoubtedly the office Christmas party. At The Inner Temple, Christmas is one of our favourite…
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.