
The Arnolfini from Pero's Bridge.
The Arnolfini ({{gbmapping|ST585724}}) is an art gallery
in Bristol
, England
. The gallery has free entry and is funded by Bristol City Council
and Arts Council England
.
The gallery occupies Bush House, a 19th century
Grade II
listed
[{{cite web | title=Bush House | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=380204 | accessdate=2006-08-18}}] tea
warehouse situated on the side of the Floating Harbour
in Bristol city centre
. As part of a two year development project that finished in September 2005
, the old warehouse has been converted from two stories to seven, with the gallery occupying the lower four floors and the upper floors leased to help pay for the gallery. One tenant is the Bristol School of Art, Media and Design, part of the University of the West of England
.
The Matthew
turning outside the Arnolfini during a harbour cruise
The gallery was established in
1961
, by
Jeremy Rees
(1937 - 2003), son of the artist
Jean Rees
and moved to its current site in
1975
and has established itself as leading centre for contemporary arts. Originally dedicated to exhibiting the work of artists from the West of England under the Directorship of
Barry Barker
in the 1980's the gallery moved towards a more general spread of contemporary art. Barker supervised a successful refurbishment of the building by
David Chipperfield
. Before development work began, the Arnolfini was attracting over 400,000 visitors per year. In addition to the gallery itself, the centre houses a small cinema specialising in independent film, a well-stocked art bookshop, and a popular waterfront café and bar. The Arnolfini is named after
Jan van Eyck
's masterpiece
The Arnolfini Portrait
(
1434
) depicting the merchant and arts patron
Giovanni Arnolfini
. The painting is now in the collection of the
National Gallery, London
.
References
External links
[
Official web site ]
[
Bush House ]
,
Pevsner Architectural Guides
<Culture in Bristol>
<Grade II* listed buildings>
<Buildings and structures in Bristol>
<Art museums and galleries in England>
<Visitor attractions in Bristol>