Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Encyclopedia
The Russell-Cotes Museum (formally, the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum) is an art gallery
and museum
in Bournemouth
, England
. It is located on the top of the East Cliff, next to the Royal Bath Hotel.
was commissioned by Merton Russell-Cotes
, then the owner of the Royal Bath Hotel, to build a house as a birthday present for his wife Annie. Originally called East Cliff Hall it was built in the northeast section of his hotel's garden. Built in the Art Nouveau
style with interiors by John Thomas and his son Oliver. It was completed in its first form in 1901.
In 1907, Annie Russell-Cotes donated East Cliff Hall and its contents as a museum to the town of Bournemouth and Merton donated his fine art collection. In return they were made honorary freemen of the town. They continued living in part of the house and over the next ten years they paid for an extension to be built and made further donations including the freehold of the site. It was formally opened by Princess Beatrice
in 1919. After their deaths the Borough of Bournemouth
took over the running of East Cliff Hall and re-opened it as the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum on the 10th March 1922. After Sir Merton's death, it was extended into his part of the house; a further extension was opened in 2000.
The house and the new annex display various items collected in the course of Sir Merton's foreign travels, especially to Japan
, and paintings from his personal art collection. One room is the Sir Henry Irving
Museum; Irving, a friend of the Russell-Cotes', had stayed in that room. When Irving died in 1905, this room was devoted to his memory. Items purchased at the sale of Irving's effects formed the basis of the Irving Museum and were displayed with memorabilia associated with his contemporaries such as Ellen Terry
and Sarah Bernhardt
.
Art gallery
An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
and museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is located on the top of the East Cliff, next to the Royal Bath Hotel.
History and collections
In 1897, the architect John Frederick FogertyJohn Frederick Fogerty
John Frederick Fogerty, ARIBA, was an Irish architect and engineer active in mid-to-late-nineteenth-century Limerick, London, Shropshire, Bournemouth, Pretoria, and Zambia. Born in Limerick, the son of architect William Fogerty, grandson of architect and engineer John Fogerty , and nephew of...
was commissioned by Merton Russell-Cotes
Merton Russell-Cotes
Sir Merton Russell-Cotes, FRGS was Mayor of Bournemouth, England, 1894–1895. During his Mayoralty, Meyrick Park, two free libraries, and the first two schools of art in the borough were opened....
, then the owner of the Royal Bath Hotel, to build a house as a birthday present for his wife Annie. Originally called East Cliff Hall it was built in the northeast section of his hotel's garden. Built in the Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
style with interiors by John Thomas and his son Oliver. It was completed in its first form in 1901.
In 1907, Annie Russell-Cotes donated East Cliff Hall and its contents as a museum to the town of Bournemouth and Merton donated his fine art collection. In return they were made honorary freemen of the town. They continued living in part of the house and over the next ten years they paid for an extension to be built and made further donations including the freehold of the site. It was formally opened by Princess Beatrice
Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom
The Princess Beatrice was a member of the British Royal Family. She was the fifth daughter and youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Juan Carlos, King of Spain, is her great-grandson...
in 1919. After their deaths the Borough of Bournemouth
Bournemouth (borough)
Bournemouth Borough Council is the local authority of Bournemouth in Dorset, England. The council is now a unitary authority, although between 1974 and 1997 it was an administrative district council with Dorset...
took over the running of East Cliff Hall and re-opened it as the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum on the 10th March 1922. After Sir Merton's death, it was extended into his part of the house; a further extension was opened in 2000.
The house and the new annex display various items collected in the course of Sir Merton's foreign travels, especially to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and paintings from his personal art collection. One room is the Sir Henry Irving
Henry Irving
Sir Henry Irving , born John Henry Brodribb, was an English stage actor in the Victorian era, known as an actor-manager because he took complete responsibility for season after season at the Lyceum Theatre, establishing himself and his company as...
Museum; Irving, a friend of the Russell-Cotes', had stayed in that room. When Irving died in 1905, this room was devoted to his memory. Items purchased at the sale of Irving's effects formed the basis of the Irving Museum and were displayed with memorabilia associated with his contemporaries such as Ellen Terry
Ellen Terry
Dame Ellen Terry, GBE was an English stage actress who became the leading Shakespearean actress in Britain. Among the members of her famous family is her great nephew, John Gielgud....
and Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
.