Burrell
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When the Burrell Collection opened its doors in 1983, Peter Wilson, the former chairman of Sotheby’s, described it as ‘one of the most remarkable assemblages of works of art ever brought together by one man’. Almost a quarter of a century later, the assertion still stands. Sir William Burrell made his fortune as a shipping magnate and developed a passion for art of all types, from paintings and sculptures through to tapestries and Islamic prayer rugs. Burrell gifted his collection – which eventually amounted to more than 8,000 works – to his native city in 1944, with strict instructions on its public display (he was concerned about the harmful effects of industrial pollution from which Glasgow then suffered). In 1967, nine years after his death, Pollok House and its estate was gifted to the city, and Pollok Park eventually became the site in which the city could display this marvellous collection. By 1983, it had a building to match: a beautiful, harmoniously designed cathedral of art that reflected its fine setting.
Burrell’s voracious collecting appetite was complemented by his canny buying skills: he was often to be found at auctions, presciently snapping up works which in later years would be worth fortunes; or waiting for other collectors to pay over the odds before cutting a bargain a few years later. Thanks to this, the Burrell has an almost unrivalled breadth: paintings by the likes of Degas and Rembrandt, sculptures by Rodin, tapestries, intricate needlework, Chinese art, furniture, stained glass, ceramics, as well as Ancient Greek and Roman pottery. It’s one of Glasgow’s finest treasures: a museum for the public that spreads its riches out for all to see. And doesn’t ask for a penny in return.