Step Into A Journey Through Time At The Guildhall Art Gallery And Discover London’s Hidden Gem of Art, History, and Surprise.
Diving into the Guildhall Art Gallery | Where it all Began
The Guildhall Art Gallery, located in the City of London, featured official portraits of Lord Mayors of the city, as well as monarchs and members of the British aristocracy during the 19th Century (1885). Nevertheless, the building was destroyed during “the Blitz” (the London Bombing) during WWII in 1941. This resulted in the loss of approximately 164 paintings, drawings, prints, and 20 sculptures. After this tragic loss, after years of it being untouched, the City of London Corporation decided to help fix and rebuild the gallery. The building was redesigned with a premodern style by Richard Gilbert Scott, a British architect. The new gallery, completed in 1999, features a collection of approximately 4,000 items.
Did you know? The remains of a Roman amphitheatre lie beneath the gallery!
See, Feel, Experience: Our Top Picks
The Defeat of the Floating Batteries at Gibraltar | John Singleton Copley
September 1782 | Oil Canvas Painting
This canvas painting of 214 by 297 inches (the most significant piece of art in the gallery) was painted by an American artist from Boston, John Singleton Copley. It depicts the heroic moment in the Great Siege of Gibraltar (1779-1783) during the American Revolutionary War. The painting commemorates their defense against the Spanish and French land attack. They used floating batteries, which were large, reinforced ships equipped with numerous cannons, intended for use against the British during the Great Siege of Gibraltar. The British defense responded with a headed shot, igniting fires on the floating batteries successfully, forcing the French and Spanish to abandon the area. The City of London Corporation commissioned Copley to capture this heroic event. The painting depicts the moment when the British are rescuing the defeated sailors.
This enormous canvas is one of the most popular paintings in the Guildhall Art Gallery. Due to its size, viewers can immerse themselves in the heroic event and experience all the emotions of the figures depicted. It feels as if you are being pulled into such a pivotal event in British history, except it's all staged. It is also a significant and detailed painting, which the Boston artist took approximately seven years to complete. The canvas celebrates such a heroic moment, showing unity and courage, where the British employed strategic skills to be able to defeat the high-tech tools of the Spanish and French. It captures the significant and dramatic emotions of both sides, allowing viewers to feel as if they are experiencing this exact moment from the attack.
Immersive Experience: The Roman Arena (Ruins of the Amphitheatre)
Ruins of London’s Roman Amphitheatre
Discovered in 1988 | AD 70
The Roman Amphitheatre is an immersive experience in the Gallery, where people can dive into ancient Roman life. The Amphitheatre was discovered during the rebuilding of the Gallery after World War II. It would have been used for specific events, such as public executions, religious ceremonies, and gladiator fights, for an audience of approximately 7,000 people. They can explore the remains and immerse themselves in the entire experience with a digital projection, which helps them visualize the amphitheater. The exposed entrance for the visitors to enter from was most likely used as “resting rooms” or shrines. They get to walk into a dark, underground space, where they can experience the ancient Roman stonework of the amphitheatre, combined with projected lights, audio, and visuals, to create an immersive experience for the viewers as if they were there.
This art installation is one of the most impactful immersive experiences for the audience in the Guildhall Gallery. They bring the ancient arena to life, where visitors can walk into this space and even hear the voices of the crowds and gladiators. The Gallery even offers a complete experience, where people can make reservations for events, or dine in!