The Flemish Picture Gallery, the Mansion of Thomas Hope, Duchess Street, Portland Place

1830–51
Not on view
In 1799 Thomas Hope, the famous architect, traveller and collector, purchased Duchess House, London from the Dowager Lady Warwick and set about remodelling the original Robert Adam building. The first stage was finished by 1801 then, in 1819, a Flemish Picture Gallery was added to Hope's own designs, with William Atkinson acting as builder. The fifty by twenty foot space at the rear of the house had a flat coffered ceiling and raised clerestory to light the collection of Dutch and Flemish paintings inherited from a brother Henry Philip Hope. Pictures hung on the walls, and on a mahogany screen running the length of the room equipped with hinges to allow the works to swing out, and fitted with comparments to hold books and folios of engravings. Hope designed this feature, and the rest of the furnishings, and allowed public access on Mondays during the Season (admittance obtained through recommendation or letter of reference). Billings probably made this drawing after 1833, after training under John Britton, and before 1851, when the house was demolished.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Flemish Picture Gallery, the Mansion of Thomas Hope, Duchess Street, Portland Place
  • Artist: Robert William Billings (British, London 1812–1874 London)
  • Date: 1830–51
  • Medium: Watercolor
  • Dimensions: sheet: 23 1/4 x 32 3/4 in. (59.1 x 83.2 cm)
  • Classifications: Drawings, Ornament & Architecture
  • Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1963
  • Object Number: 63.617.2
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.