Highlights of The Collection
Discover the remarkable paintings in The Courtauld’s collection, which range from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
The Courtauld is best known for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including iconic works by Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne.
The collection includes one of the richest holdings in Britain of early Italian art and paintings by the 17th-century artist Peter Paul Rubens, alongside important works by Sandro Botticelli, Lucas Cranach and Pieter Bruegel. The displays extend into the 20th century with major works by Amedeo Modigliani, Oskar Kokoschka and artists of the Bloomsbury Group.
The collection on display is under continuous review. This means some of the works of art on this page might not be on view at the time of your visit. Works of art not on display can be seen by appointment; please contact us for further information.
Middle Ages and Renaissance, 1250 - 1600
The Courtauld’s collection of medieval and Renaissance paintings comprises outstanding works from both northern and southern Europe. Its holdings of 14th and early 15th century Italian paintings are one of the most important in Britain. They are complemented by one of the finest examples of early Netherlandish painting, The Entombment or ‘Seilern Triptych’.
Works from later in the period include the only altarpiece by Sandro Botticelli in the UK; one of Lucas Cranach’s greatest paintings, Adam and Eve; and two rare panels by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, a leading artist of the Northern Renaissance by whom fewer than 40 paintings survive.
Paintings in Europe, 1600 - 1800
At the heart of The Courtauld’s holdings of European painting is a world-class collection of works by the artist Peter Paul Rubens. It includes large oil studies that offer unparalleled insights into Rubens’s creative process, and very personal works such as the enchanting Landscape by Moonlight.
The 18th century collection features paintings from different parts of Europe, including Italy, Spain and England. Particularly striking works include Thomas Gainsborough’s mesmerising portrait of his wife and the only full-length portrait by Francisco de Goya in Britain.
Impressionism and Post-Impressionism
Discover The Courtauld’s extraordinary Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection featuring paintings by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Gauguin and the most significant collection of works by Paul Cézanne in the UK. Highlights include world-famous masterpieces such as Édouard Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère and Vincent van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear.
The collection is presented in The Courtauld Gallery’s spectacular Great Room, one of the largest spaces in Somerset House, after a three-year transformation project.
20th century
The Courtauld’s rich collection of modern paintings ranges from early 20th-century highlights such as Amedeo Modigliani’s Female Nude, to major Post-War paintings, including Frank Auerbach’s Rebuilding the Empire Cinema, Leicester Square, and a collection of works by Bloomsbury Group artists including Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and Roger Fry.
Other highlights include a significant group of works by Oskar Kokoschka, including his monumental triptych The Myth of Prometheus, and works by Ben Nicholson, Graham Sutherland, Ivon Hitchens and Frank Auerbach among others.
