The Courtauld

The Courtauld World-famous Gallery and international centre for the teaching, research and enjoyment of art history
(1923)

Discover our world-famous collection of paintings, drawings and decorative arts. Ranging from the Middle Ages to the 20th century the collection is displayed in the elegant surroundings of Somerset House. The Courtauld is best known for its outstanding Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including celebrated works by Monet, Renoir, Degas and Gauguin as well as a major group of paintings by Cézanne.

📚 Pre-order the catalogue accompanying The Griffin Catalyst Exhibition: Goya to Impressionism. Masterpieces from the Osk...
24/01/2025

📚 Pre-order the catalogue accompanying The Griffin Catalyst Exhibition: Goya to Impressionism. Masterpieces from the Oskar Reinhart Collection 📚

The Oskar Reinhart Collection 'Am Römerholz' in Winterthur, northern Switzerland, is one of the most remarkable of its kind, ranging from superlative Old Master paintings and drawings to exceptional examples of Impressionist art. This exhibition narrates the story of the collector, Oskar Reinhart (1885-1965), and presents an extraordinary group of masterpieces that are shown outside Winterthur for the first time in the history of the institution.

https://shop.courtauld.ac.uk/products/goya-to-impressionism-masterpieces-from-the-oskar-reinhart-collection

How many details can you spot in Édouard Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergère? 🍾Born   in 1832, Manet completed this, his...
23/01/2025

How many details can you spot in Édouard Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergère? 🍾

Born in 1832, Manet completed this, his last major painting, a year before he died, exhibiting it in 1882 at the Paris Salon.

It would have been a startling painting for Salon visitors in many ways not just for its unnamed subject but its perspective too. The quickly sketched crowds convey the bustle of the popular Folies-Bergère, but the barmaid is detatched and still at the bar, seemingly just another object like those in front of her. She stares at the viewer, but the mirror shows her facing a customer - who is he? 🤔

Manet frequented the Folies-Bergère, making sketches on site. He painted the final work entirely in his studio, where a barmaid named Suzon came to pose.

See it on display in the LVMH Great Room at The Courtauld Gallery.

📷 Édouard Manet (1832-1883), A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1882), oil on canvas. The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld

🌊 Announcing our first exhibition for 2026 – The Griffin Catalyst Exhibition: Seurat and the Sea 🌊 The first-ever exhibi...
23/01/2025

🌊 Announcing our first exhibition for 2026 – The Griffin Catalyst Exhibition: Seurat and the Sea 🌊

The first-ever exhibition dedicated to the seascapes of the French artist Georges Seurat (1859-1891), this focused display will chart the evolution of his radical and distinctive style throughout the recurring motif of the sea.

Best known as the creator of the Neo-Impressionist technique, Seurat famously rendered shapes and light by juxtaposing small dots of pure colour. Explore 23 paintings, oil sketches and drawings created by Seurat during the five summers he spent on the northern coast of France between 1885 and 1890, capturing the seascapes, regattas and port activity 🚣

He sought, in his words: ‘to wash his eyes of the days spent in the studio [in Paris] and to translate in the most faithful manner the bright clarity, in all its nuances’ 💭

The Courtauld holds the largest collection by works of Seurat in the UK. Due to his early death at the age of 31, Seurat has a very small pool of works, and exhibitions devoted to him are rare; this major exhibition will be the first in the UK in almost 30 years. It follows major Impressionist exhibitions at The Courtauld, including Cézanne’s Card Players, Van Gogh. Self-Portraits and the recent Monet and London. Views of the Thames, seen by a record 120,000 visitors.

📅 13 Feb – 17 May 2026
🎟️ Tickets on sale later this year. Friends go free 💛 https://courtauld.ac.uk/whats-on/exh-seurat-and-the-sea/

📷 Georges Seurat (1859-1891), Seascape at Port-en-Bessin, Normandy, 1888, oil on canvas. Gift of the W. Averell Harriman Foundation in memory of Marie N. Harriman, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

Exciting news! The milestone tenth series of Landscape Artist of the Year starts tonight on Sky Arts. Will you be watchi...
22/01/2025

Exciting news! The milestone tenth series of Landscape Artist of the Year starts tonight on Sky Arts. Will you be watching? 🎨

This series will span the length and breadth of the UK, challenging the artists with some of the most breath-taking and complex views - from Bristol's iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge and a landscape fit for a King at Hampton Court Palace to the spectacular views of Stonehenge, and more in a bid to be crowned Landscape Artist of the Year.

The winner of Landscape Artist of the Year will secure a £10,000 commission to create a landscape in a very special location in the South of France, which will go on display in the LVMH Great Room at The Courtauld Gallery this spring. ✨

https://courtauld.ac.uk/news-blogs/2025/sky-arts-landscape-artist-of-the-year-2025/

If you've never heard of our Short Courses programme... now is your time  💡If you're new to art history and want to disc...
21/01/2025

If you've never heard of our Short Courses programme... now is your time 💡

If you're new to art history and want to discover more about our programmes, come and meet us over coffee, conversation and a range of short talks at our upcoming Open Event.

⏰ Jan 25, on campus 10:30-12:15, online 12:30-13:30
🎟️ Book your free place here: https://courtauld.ac.uk/short-courses-2025/open-event/

We look forward to meeting you! ✨

📷 Pierre Auguste Renoir, La Loge, 1874, oil on canvas, The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld

Brighten your   with some of John Constable's calming clouds 🌥️Constable undertook several campaigns of painting clouds ...
20/01/2025

Brighten your with some of John Constable's calming clouds 🌥️

Constable undertook several campaigns of painting clouds from Hampstead Heath over the summers and autumns of 1820-23, and this particular study presented a windy challenge: although he worked quickly, he was unable to finish the middle bank of cloud, which remains blue. ⛅

Take your time with the details this morning 💙

John Constable (1776-1837), Cloud Study, 1822. The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld

Paul Cézanne was born   in 1839 🎨A pivotal figure in the the transition from Impressionism to modern art, Cézanne revolu...
19/01/2025

Paul Cézanne was born in 1839 🎨

A pivotal figure in the the transition from Impressionism to modern art, Cézanne revolutionised painting through his unique approach to form, colour, and space, breaking down perspectives and using distinctive brushstrokes to form his renowned masterpieces.

The Courtauld is home to the most significant collection of works by Cézanne in the UK? See masterpieces on display including the quiet contemplation of The Card Players (c.1892-96), Man with a Pipe (c.1892-96), and the distorted lines of Still Life with Plaster Cupid (c.1894) 🎨

Plus see even MORE Cézanne in our upcoming exhibition The Griffin Catalyst Exhibition: Goya to Impressionism. Masterpieces from the Oskar Reinhart Collection, opening 14 Feb 2025.

What is your favourite work by Cézanne? 🖼️

🎟️ Book your visit now - courtauld.ac.uk/gallery

📷 Paul Cézanne (1839-1906), Tall Trees at the Jas de Bouffan, c.1883
The Card Players, 1892-1896
Montagne Sainte-Victoire with Large pine, c.1887
Pot of Flowers and Fruit, c.1888-90
Lac d'Annecy (Lake Annecy), 1896

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © The Courtauld)

18/01/2025

What amazing views across the Thames we've had... ☀️

It's the final weekend of The Griffin Catalyst Exhibition: Monet and London. Views of the Thames, bringing together some of Monet's most remarkable Impressionist paintings; his views of the River Thames.

Begun during three stays in the capital between 1899-1901, the series - depicting Charing Cross Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, and the Houses of Parliament, depict extraordinary views as they have never been seen before, full of evocative atmosphere, mysterious light and radiant colour. Unveiled in Paris in 1904, Monet fervently wanted to show them in London the following year, but plans fell through.

It has been our privilege to showcase these works together for the first time just metres from where they were painted.

Explore the virtual tour: https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/virtual-tours/

A January mood 😴Explore our full collection on the Gallery Collections website: https://gallerycollections.courtauld.ac....
18/01/2025

A January mood 😴

Explore our full collection on the Gallery Collections website: https://gallerycollections.courtauld.ac.uk

📸 William Henry Hunt (1790-1864), Fast Asleep, 1832, watercolour on woven paper. The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) ©️ The Courtauld

17/01/2025

Take a deep dive into art history with our MA in History of Art 🎨

One of the largest graduate Art History programmes anywhere in the world, explore the rich tapestry of art through time and develop research-led skills and knowledge, as well as specialise on a specific area through your Special Option module.

Deadlines for entry in 2025, and any scholarship applications, close on Monday 20 December.

Hear more from the course leaders, and apply today: https://courtauld.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/ma-history-of-art/

We are delighted to announce two senior appointments at The Courtauld 🖼️ Professor Dorothy Price FBA, currently Professo...
16/01/2025

We are delighted to announce two senior appointments at The Courtauld 🖼️

Professor Dorothy Price FBA, currently Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art and Critical Race Art History, has been appointed Executive Dean and Deputy Director from August 2025, leading our teaching, learning, research and public engagement strategy and at the forefront of our mission to attract new people to study and enjoy art history and conservation.

Professor Steve Edwards has been appointed Manton Professor of British Art. Beginning in April, he will serve as the inaugural Director of The Courtauld’s new Manton Centre for British Art, the new home for The Courtauld’s research and teaching on British art.

Read more: bit.ly/3DZFtsb

15/01/2025

How do we think about artistic practice when we think about curating?

Hear from Dr Devika Singh, Senior Lecturer in Curating at The Courtauld.

Find out more about studying an MA in Curating or any of our other Postgraduate courses - applications for entry in 2025 close on 20 Jan. courtauld.ac.uk/study

One month to go until our next exhibition opens! ✨For the first time in its history, highlights from the Sammlung Oskar ...
14/01/2025

One month to go until our next exhibition opens! ✨

For the first time in its history, highlights from the Sammlung Oskar Reinhart «Am Römerholz» will be on display outside of Winterthur, Switzerland, in The Griffin Catalyst Exhibition: Goya to Impressionism. Masterpieces from the Oskar Reinhart Collection (14 Feb – 26 May 2025)🇨🇭

One of the most remarkable art museums of its kind, the Oskar Reinhart Collection was assembled in the first half of the 20th century. This exhibition will include masterpieces from the generation preceding the Impressionists - including Goya, Géricault and Courbet - and an extraordinary collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, by artists including Manet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Renoir, and more.

🎟️ Tickets selling fast - advance booking is recommended. Book now: https://courtauld.ac.uk/whats-on/exh-goya-to-impressionism-masterpieces-from-the-oskar-reinhart-collection/

📷 Vincent van Gogh, A Ward in the Hospital at Arles, 1889
Edouard Manet, Au café, 1878
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, The Clown Cha-U-Kao (detail), 1895
Paul Cézanne, Still Life with Faience Jug and Fruit, c.1900
Francisco Goya, Still Life with Three Salmon Steaks, 1808-12

Images: The Swiss Confederation, Federal Office of Culture, Oskar Reinhart Collection "Am Römerholz", Winterthur

Applying to The Courtauld for a postgraduate degree in 2025? 🎨Here's a checklist of resources available on our website -...
13/01/2025

Applying to The Courtauld for a postgraduate degree in 2025? 🎨

Here's a checklist of resources available on our website - applications close on Monday 20 Jan. https://courtauld.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/

🖼️ Explore all the details of our courses in MA History of Art, MA Curating, MA in Art and Business, and MA in Buddhist Art History and Conservation, to put the finishing touches to your personal statement.

🎬 Watch our introductory videos and virtual open day recordings to find guidance on the courses and on your application, from what documents you'll need to how to apply, plus info on accommodation, resources, and more

💷 Scholarship information, with applications also closing on Monday 20 Jan

Any questions? Reach out to our admissions team via our website: https://courtauld.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/

A simple vase of flowers or a kitchen table can be turned into a masterclass of colour and form 🍳For artists, the intima...
12/01/2025

A simple vase of flowers or a kitchen table can be turned into a masterclass of colour and form 🍳

For artists, the intimacy and easy access of a domestic space means it is a scene reproduced countless times throughout history.

Swipe through to explore some still lifes from the 20th century 👉

🍎 Jean Hippolyte Marchand (1883-1940), Still Life with Fruit and Candlestick, c.1920. The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust). Work in the public domain

🍴Duncan Grant (1885-1978), Still Life - The Dinner Table, c.1912. The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © Estate of Duncan Grant. All rights reserved, DACS 2023

🌷Rodolphe Théophile Bosshard (1889-1960), Still Life with Tulips, c.1925. The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust) © Association Rodolphe-Théophile Bosshard, Lausanne

🍇 Samuel John Peploe (1871-1935), Still Life with Jug and Grapes, 1920-25. The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust). Work in the public domain

This striking depiction of Waterloo Bridge on an overcast day brings to mind Claude Monet's description of foggy winter ...
11/01/2025

This striking depiction of Waterloo Bridge on an overcast day brings to mind Claude Monet's description of foggy winter mornings in London, that were so dark he had to keep the lights on until at least 10am 🌥️

Technical examination of this work, with its thin green lines marking ripples, contours, and outlines, reveal that Monet changed the composition quite dramatically, reducing the number and spacing of the arches and flattening the angle of the bridge so it appeared more frontal to the viewer. As a result, we have a relatively close-up view of the bridge.

Such revisions were common as Monet struggled with the arrangements of his motifs in his Thames series, as well as the changing weather effects outside his window.

🎟️ The Griffin Catalyst Exhibition: Monet and London. Views of the Thames is sold out. Explore the exhibition in our virtual tour and films: https://courtauld.ac.uk/whats-on/exh-monet-and-london-views-of-the-thames/

📷 Claude Monet (1840-1926), Waterloo Bridge, Gray Weather, 1900, oil on canvas, Art Institute of Chicago / Art Resource, NY/ Scala, Florence

If you’re applying for a Postgraduate Course at The Courtauld in 2025/26, we have a range of scholarships available to s...
10/01/2025

If you’re applying for a Postgraduate Course at The Courtauld in 2025/26, we have a range of scholarships available to support you, including:

🖼️ The Courtauld “Art for All” MA Scholarship, open to under-represented students studying on any full-time MA course and awarding £15,500 to support your studies

🎨 The Postgraduate Studies Scholarship, available dependant on background or area of study criteria.

🖌️ Conservation scholarships for students on MA conservation programmes, with awards varying

Apply by 20 Jan 2025. Find out more about criteria and how to apply: https://courtauld.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/postgraduate-fees-funding-and-scholarships/

08/01/2025

A Monet painting gifted to Winston Churchill, now conserved to its original glory ☀️

Explore the story behind one of the most exciting works in The Griffin Catalyst Exhibition: Monet and London. Views of the Thames, depicting Charing Cross Bridge shrouded in an extraordinary yellow haze.

Tag us in your visits to Monet and London using , or explore the virtual tour and more videos: https://courtauld.ac.uk/whats-on/exh-monet-and-london-views-of-the-thames/

📷 Claude Monet (1840-1926), Charing Cross Bridge, 1902, National Trust Collections © National Trust Images/Matthew Hollow

Address

Somerset House, Strand
London
WC2R0RN

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 10am - 6pm

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Courtauld posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Videos

Share

Category

Our Story

Discover our world-famous collection of paintings, drawings and decorative arts. Ranging from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, the collection is displayed in the elegant surroundings of Somerset House. The Courtauld is best known for its outstanding Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including celebrated works by Monet, Renoir, Degas and Gauguin as well as a major group of paintings by Cézanne. Visitors can enjoy iconic masterpieces such as Manet's 'A Bar at the Folies-Bergère' and Van Gogh's 'Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear.'