The Wallace Collection Reproduction Oil Paintings

What is the Wallace Collection?

The Wallace Collection is a museum in central London housing the paintings and fine arts collection of several generations of the Marquesses of Hertford, mainly Richard Seymour-Conway, the 4th Marquess of Hertford. The museum occupies Herford House, formally one of the townhouses in London owned by the Seymour family.

The museum's name comes from Sir Richard Wallace, who assisted the 4th Marquess in expanding the family collection.  There is speculation that Richard Wallace was the illegitimate son of the 4th Marquess.

The widow of Sir Richard left the house and the collection of some 5,500 items to the United Kingdom upon her death.

What paintings are in the Wallace Collection?

The Wallace Collection holds two iconic paintings, The Swing by Jean-Honore Fragonard and The Laughing Cavalier by Frans Hals.

The Wallace is also home to famous Rembrandt paintings, Titus and The Artists’ Son.  It also includes The Marriage of the Virgin by Bartolome Esteban Murillo and The Lady with a Fan by Diego Velazquez.

Two paintings by Canaletto include Two Views of Venice, Grand Canal from Palazzo Flangini, 1738, and The Doge’s Palace and The Riva Schiavoni.

The Wallace Collection also displays a Nicolas Poussin oil painting, Dance to the Music of Time 1640,  a famous Sir Anthony Van Dyke portrait of Philippe le Roy Seigneur de Ravel, painted in 1630, and Titian's painting of Perseus and Andromeda.

Who paid for the Wallace Collection?

The Seymour-Conway family owned vast holdings of land in Ireland. They achieved great fortune from this source and the first and second Marquesses traveled on The Grand Tour, mainly to Italy.  While on The Grand tour, the Marquis purchased the Canaletto paintings.

The third Marquess bought Dutch paintings, mainly at auction.  His substantial fortune allowed him to buy anything he wanted, at any price, at times, even outbidding kings and other royalty.