Page 55 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

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Holbein’s The Ambassadors (1533). the piazza in the Tuscan town
It is equally strong in 17th- and of Livorno, which he had seen
18th-cen tury works, and has a during his travels in Italy. For a
fine collection of Impressionist brief period, the Piazza became
and Post-Impressionist paintings, one of the most fashionable
including Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s addresses in London, but it
At the Theatre (1876–7) and was superseded by the even
Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers grander St James’s Square, which
(1888). The gallery recently lies to the southwest. Decline
purchased its first non-European accelerated when a fruit and
work, Men of the Docks (1912), by vegetable market opened here.
American artist George Bellows. By the mid-18th century, the
A major extension, the Piazza had become a haunt
Sainsbury Wing, was completed of prostitutes and most of its
in 1991. It houses the Early houses had turned into seedy
Renaissance collection and has lodgings, gambling dens,
a special exhibition space and brothels and taverns.
lecture hall in the basement. The Ditchley portrait of Elizabeth I on Meanwhile, the wholesale
display at the National Portrait Gallery produce market became the
t National Prize. The gallery’s rooftop largest in the country and in
1828 a market hall was erected
Portrait Gallery restaurant provides wonderful to ease congestion. The market,
views across Trafalgar Square. however, soon outgrew its
2 St Martin’s Pl, WC2. Map D3. Tel 020
7306 0055. 3 Charing Cross. 1 new home and despite the
Charing Cross, Leicester Sq. Open y Covent Garden construc tion of new buildings,
10am–6pm daily (to 9pm Thu & Fri). such as the Floral and Jubilee
BP Portrait Award: Jun–Sep. Taylor Piazza and Central halls, the congestion grew worse.
Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize: Market In 1973, the market moved to a
Nov–Feb. Closed 24–26 Dec. & for site in south London, and over
special exhibitions. 9 7 Orange St Covent Garden, WC2. Map D3. the next two decades Covent
entrance. 0 - = ∑ npg.org.uk 1 Covent Garden. 7 cobbled streets. Garden was redeveloped. Today
∑ coventgarden.london only St Paul’s Church remains
This fascinating museum was of Inigo Jones’s buildings, and
founded in 1856 to celebrate The 17th-century architect Covent Garden, with its many
Britain’s rich history through Inigo Jones planned the Piazza shops, cafés, restaurants, market
portrait painting and sculpture; in Covent Garden as an elegant stalls and street entertainers, is
photog raphy was added in 1932. residential square, modelled on one of London’s liveliest districts.
Subjects are those who have
made a significant contribution
to Britain’s history, for better or
worse: kings, queens, artists,
thinkers, scientists, heroes and
villains from all periods since
the late 14th century.
The oldest works are on the
top floor and include a Holbein
cartoon of Henry VIII and
paintings of some of his wives.
Other early portraits include the
Ditchley portrait of Elizabeth I
and the Chandos portrait of
Shakespeare, which may have
been painted from life.
The collection runs roughly
chronologically from the top
floor down, with 20th-century
figures from the worlds of art,
pop and politics represented on
the first floor. Recent commissions
are placed on the ground floor,
which is also used for temporary
exhibitions, such as the annual
BP Portrait Award and the Taylor
Wessing Photographic Portrait Stalls, shops and restaurants in the 19th-century Central Market hall in Covent Garden

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