Art and art historySince 1932

The Courtauld

The Courtauld Institute of Art, opened in 1932, and its Gallery at Somerset House, known for French Impressionist and Post Impressionist paintings.

The story →Visit the Gallery.

Somerset House, home of The Courtauld, seen through the trees

1932Opened

1989Moved to Somerset House

2021The Gallery reopened

University of LondonAn independent college

The LVMH Great Room at the Courtauld Gallery

The story

Collectors and scholars.

The Courtauld Institute of Art opened in October 1932, founded by the collectors Samuel Courtauld, Viscount Lee of Fareham and Sir Robert Witt. Its first home was Home House at 20 Portman Square, given by Samuel Courtauld together with his pictures.

The Institute moved into Somerset House on the Strand in 1989, and the Courtauld Gallery is housed there today. The Courtauld is an independent college of the University of London; teaching moved to a campus at Vernon Square in 2019 while Somerset House was redeveloped.

“The Courtauld advances how we see and understand the visual arts.”The Courtauld

The Gallery is particularly known for its French Impressionist and Post Impressionist paintings, including Manet’s A Bar at the Folies Bergère and Van Gogh’s Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear. It reopened in November 2021 after a three year transformation known as Courtauld Connects.

The Courtauld

Seeing and understanding.

A gallery and a college of the University of London.

The Gallery

At Somerset House on the Strand.

The collection

Impressionist and Post Impressionist paintings.

The college

Independent, within the University of London.

Courtauld Connects

A three year transformation.

The collection

Cézanne, Van Gogh and more.

Paintings, drawings and treasures.

The Courtauld, Somerset House, home of The Courtauld, seen through the trees — Somerset House, home of The Courtauld, seen through the trees

The Courtauld, The Courtauld at Somerset House — The Courtauld at Somerset House

The Courtauld, Vincent van Gogh, Peach Trees in Blossom, 1889 (detail) — Vincent van Gogh, Peach Trees in Blossom, 1889 (detail)

The Courtauld, Paul Cézanne, The Montagne Sainte Victoire with a Large Pine, around 1887 — Paul Cézanne, The Montagne Sainte Victoire with a Large Pine, around 1887

The Courtauld, Paul Cézanne, still life with a plaster cupid, onions and apples — Paul Cézanne, still life with a plaster cupid, onions and apples

The Courtauld, Paul Cézanne, Man with a Pipe, around 1892 to 1896 — Paul Cézanne, Man with a Pipe, around 1892 to 1896

The Courtauld, Edward Dayes, Somerset House from the Thames, 1788 — Edward Dayes, Somerset House from the Thames, 1788

The Courtauld, Carved hair parter with an embracing couple, about 1350 — Carved hair parter with an embracing couple, about 1350

The Courtauld, The Annunciation, from the Courtauld collection — The Annunciation, from the Courtauld collection

The Courtauld, Cézanne inspired silk scarf from the Courtauld Shop — Cézanne inspired silk scarf from the Courtauld Shop

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History

Portman Square to the Strand.

The homes of The Courtauld.

1932

Home House

Opens at 20 Portman Square.

1989

Somerset House

The Institute moves to the Strand.

2019

Vernon Square

Teaching moves during redevelopment.

2021

The Gallery reopens

After Courtauld Connects.

The home

Somerset House, London

The Courtauld Gallery on the Strand, led today by Professor Mark Hallett, Märit Rausing Director since August 2023.

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Visit

Visit the Gallery.

The Courtauld advances how we see and understand the visual arts.

The Courtauld Gallery

Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN

Open daily, 10am to 6pm.

courtauld.ac.uk→ Instagram @courtauld→ +44 (0)20 3947 7777→ galleryinfo@courtauld.ac.uk→ Directions→

THE COURTAULD

How we see and understand the visual arts.

Visit courtauld.ac.uk More Art

Imagery shown from courtauld.ac.uk. Every fact on this page is drawn from The Courtauld’s own website and corroborated by independent sources. Simply Luxury is an independent publication.

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