The Gallery

Today we look at the gallery that is hosting the exhibition in yesterday's post.  This glorious building was built by William Waldorf Aster in 1892 to be used as his London offices.  The man whose family owned most of the property on Manhattan Island, spared no expense on his lavish London pad.

The stairwell pillars are solid ebony, the staircase is mahogany, the panels are English oak.  The three musketeers gaze down from the banisters, as do characters from several American novels.   Four intricate panels depict the scenes from Shakespearean plays.

In the main gallery light streams in through stunning stained glass windows. The panelled walls are of pencil cedar with a gilded freeze depicting portraits of characters from novels from history and fiction.  Gazing down from the rafters are carved figures from literature, including Robin Hood and Ivanhoe.  At one end of the long gallery is a marble fireplace.

The building has only had four owners mainly as it cannot be used as a residential property.  The current owner is the  Bulldog Trust that supports charitable activities through exhibitions and events as well as providing a venue for corporate and private events.

It is only open to the public during the hosting of exhibitions.  Twice the value for your visit!