Manchester Art Gallery
A fabulous free-to-view municipally-owned public art gallery
Extended in 2002 by Hopkins Architects, the gallery now occupies three buildings. One of them is the Grade I listed building that used to be the Royal Manchester Institution designed by Sir Charles Barry in 1824. As well as art of international significance, there are a great number of exhibits specifically related to Manchester.There are almost 13,000 items including painting, sculpture, drawings, watercolours, prints, posters and photographs housed in the gallery. The museum is famous for its collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, but you’ll also find includes British and European art from the 17th century up to today.
This is also the place for fans of decorative art, given the great number of craft and design objects from ceramics, glass and furniture to metalwork, wallpaper and even dolls houses which are available to view. Particularly popular are the early English slipware, 17th century silver, and the contemporary furniture collection and lighting design.
Followers of fashion will love the Gallery of Costume at Platt Hall – the collection contains over 21,000 items of clothing and accessories, from 1600s historical dresses, 18th century fashion and 19th century women and children's fashion to contemporary clothing.
