Walkthrough

Stairs and Rotunda

The staircase leads to the permanent collection of painting, sculpture and decorative art on the first floor. On reaching the first floor, there is a seating area in the Rotunda. There is also Wifi access in this area.

Look up to the ceiling and you will see an impressive coffered (panelled) dome decorated with signs of the Zodiac. This overlooks six Bassae columns made of Devonshire marble.

There are three marble statues in the Rotunda. Two are by Warrington Wood - a suitably religious-looking Rachel holding a lamb, and Jephthah’s Daughter with flowing drapery. The third statue is a rather formal Hebe by Antonio Canova, who was a great influence on sculptors of the period.

Large Upper Gallery

The first floor gallery has been restored to its Victorian splendour and shows displays from the Council's own art collection.

In our first floor gallery we explore 500 years of European art and artists. The display is free to everyone and spans hundreds of years of art history, from our beautiful, jewel like Adoration of the Magi from the 1480s, to Silence by Howard Hodgkin, painted in the early years of this century. Still life, portraiture and landscapes are all included.

Bath was a centre for portrait painting in the late 18th century. Many of the wealthy visitors who flocked here to enjoy the spa also sat for a portrait. Some of the best portrait painters of the day came to Bath, most notably Thomas Gainsborough who worked here for many years.

More recent paintings with a local connection are those by artists who worked at Bath Academy of Art in the 1950s and 60s. The best and most talented painters of the day were attracted to this, one of the country’s best and most innovative art schools of the day.

Also on display is a remarkable painting by Paul Klee, brought out of Germany in the 1930s by a family of Jewish origin and one of the last canvases ever painted by the celebrated French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Explore Bath's world heritage

Other things to do in Bath

Walkthrough

Take a walk through the Victoria Art Gallery.

Explore Bath's world heritage

Explore Bath's world heritage

Other things to do in Bath

Walkthrough

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