We care for one of the world’s greatest collections of historic paintings. Our Collection, of over 660 works, features famous paintings by great artists such as Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Poussin, Canaletto, Murillo and Beale. But did you know we also have a collection of furniture?
The core of the furniture collection was donated by Margaret Desenfans (1731-1813), one of Dulwich Picture Gallery's three founders. It came to the Gallery from her house in Charlotte Street (now Hallam Street), London, which she had shared with the two other founders, her husband Noel (1741-1807) and the painter Francis Bourgeois (1753-1811). Little is known as to where or how the three acquired their collection of primarily French and English 18th-century domestic furniture, but it is thought to have been gradually accumulated over the many years they lived together. Continuing this idea, Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) – who served as Chairman of the Gallery Committee from 1908-19 – donated another set of furniture to the Gallery in 1928.
You’ll discover key pieces from our furniture collection on display in the Gallery and you can read more about our furniture in The Furniture at Dulwich Picture Gallery by Sarah Moulden, available in ourGallery Shop.