On Trumpington Street, a great columned portico rises above the pavement, guarded by stone lions. Inside are galleries of paintings, antiquities and treasures. The temptation is to see everything. The better plan is to take time with one thing.
The Fitzwilliam Museum began in 1816 with the collection and bequest of Richard Fitzwilliam, a former Trinity Hall student. His gift included artworks, objects, books and money for a museum. A site on Trumpington Street was bought in 1821, and George Basevi’s design followed in the 1830s.
Look beyond the façade
The collections span antiquities, decorative arts, manuscripts, paintings and much more. A visit can be as focused as one gallery or one object. Looking closely, for a long time, often leaves a stronger memory than hurrying past a hundred things.
An object can open a world of questions. Leave time to look, and to ask where it came from.
Collections have histories too
The museum’s own history acknowledges the Fitzwilliam family’s connections to the transatlantic slave trade, and its work to address that legacy. A great collection invites questions about how it was formed, as well as admiration for what it holds.
Sources & further reading
Visitor arrangements and event details can change; check with the relevant institution before visiting.