Walker Art Gallery
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Sometimes referred to as the 'National Gallery of the north', Walker Art Gallery hosts renaissance masterpieces, Tudor portraits, sculptures and Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite art.
While the collection originated in 1819 , with a gift of 37 paintings to the Liverpool Royal Institution by local historian, lawyer and philanthropist William Roscoe , the gallery itself did not come to fruition for a further 60 years. In 1873 Andrew Barclay Walker, a Liverpool brewer and alderman offered the city £20,000 for a gallery that would commemorate his term as mayor. He was not a noted patron or collector of art, but he did give to many good causes , partly to improve the public image of brewing and alcohol at a time when it was unpopular. The following year, Prince Alfred the Duke of Edinburgh, laid the foundation stone of the gallery, while the council set aside £1,200 for the purchase of works of art. It opened in 1877, receiving 324,117 visitors in its first four months.
Since then the collection has grown to incorporate an impressive number of gifts, donations and acquisitions, from Renaissance masterpieces to Tudor portraits, Victorian decorative arts to contemporary works. The Walker Art Gallery is also home to the biennial John Moores painting prize, the UK's biggest painting competition.
Visitor information
Address
William Brown Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 8EL
01514 784199
Opening times
Wednesday – Sunday each week with usual opening hours of 10am – 5pm (closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
Visitor information
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.