Cumberland Suite

A new art gallery has opened at Hampton Court Palace. The Cumberland Art Gallery occupies a recently restored Georgian suite of rooms at the heart of the palace. The suite was designed by William Kent for William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, the youngest son of King George II. The new gallery will display changing exhibitions of paintings mainly from the Royal Collection. I was interested to note that two scandalous women were chosen for inclusion in the inaugural exhibition, put side by side. On the left is Sir Anthony van Dyck's portrait of his mistress Margaret Lemon (c. 1635-1640) with breast coyly exposed. On the right is Artemisia Gentileschi's feminist statement Self-Portrait as the Allegory of Painting (1630-1639). There are also masterpieces by Holbein, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Bassano and Gainsborough plus a room full of Canalettos (CLICK). Admission costs £18.20.