Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art
Encyclopedia
The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art is a scholarly centre in London
devoted to the study of British Art
. It was founded in 1970 and opened to the public in 1977, and is endowed by a gift from Paul Mellon
. Since 1996, it has been situated at 16 Bedford Square
in a Grade I listed building. This building houses an outstanding library of 12,000 volumes focused on British Art, as well as a number of important manuscript collections.
Although incorporated as a British educational charity, the Centre has close links to Yale University
. As well as providing teaching in London for American students, the Centre supports a publication programme through Yale University Press
and co-ordinates its activities with the sister institution, the Yale Center for British Art
in New Haven, which was also donated by Mellon and contains his collection of British paintings in Louis Kahn
's famous building.
The Center is a registered charity in the United Kingdom and is a member of the Association of Research Institutes in Art History.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
devoted to the study of British Art
British art
British art could refer to:* Art of the United Kingdom - post 1707* English art* Irish art* Scottish art* Welsh art...
. It was founded in 1970 and opened to the public in 1977, and is endowed by a gift from Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon KBE was an American philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
. Since 1996, it has been situated at 16 Bedford Square
Bedford Square
Bedford Square is a square in the Bloomsbury district of the Borough of Camden in London, England.Built between 1775 and 1783 as an upper middle class residential area, the sqare has had many distinguished residents, including Lord Eldon, one of Britain's longest serving and most celebrated Lord...
in a Grade I listed building. This building houses an outstanding library of 12,000 volumes focused on British Art, as well as a number of important manuscript collections.
Although incorporated as a British educational charity, the Centre has close links to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. As well as providing teaching in London for American students, the Centre supports a publication programme through Yale University Press
Yale University Press
Yale University Press is a book publisher founded in 1908 by George Parmly Day. It became an official department of Yale University in 1961, but remains financially and operationally autonomous....
and co-ordinates its activities with the sister institution, the Yale Center for British Art
Yale Center for British Art
The Yale Center for British Art is an art museum in New Haven, Connecticut at Yale University which houses the most comprehensive collection of British Art outside the United Kingdom...
in New Haven, which was also donated by Mellon and contains his collection of British paintings in Louis Kahn
Louis Kahn
Louis Isadore Kahn was an American architect, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. After working in various capacities for several firms in Philadelphia, he founded his own atelier in 1935...
's famous building.
The Center is a registered charity in the United Kingdom and is a member of the Association of Research Institutes in Art History.
Notable people
- Michael KitsonMichael KitsonMichael William Lely Kitson was an English art historian.-Background:...
, Director of Studies 1985-1995 - Martin PostleMartin PostleDr. Martin Postle serves as the assistant director of the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, London, United Kingdom, and is an expert on Sir Joshua Reynolds.-Career:...
Assistant Director, Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, London, expert on Sir Joshua Reynolds