Apsley House
Apsley House
Also known as Number One London, Apsley House is one of the most interesting visitor attractions in London. Home to the Duke of Wellington after his victory over Napoleon at Waterloo, the interior of the house has changed very little since the days of the Iron Duke.
It boasts one of the finest art collections in London, with paintings by Velazquez and Rubens as well as a wonderful collection of silver and porcelain. Pride of place goes to a massive nude statue of Napoleon. Why not include a stroll through nearby Hyde Park, and a visit to nearby Wellington Arch for a great value family day out in London.
Art Collection
The collection of paintings at Apsley House contains about 200 of the finest works of art in London. It is a treasure house of pictures that originally belonged to the king of Spain, and which were removed from the Spanish royal palaces by Napoleon Bonaparte's brother, Joseph.
Among the paintings are some of the finest canvases from the Spanish Royal Collection, captured by the 1st Duke of Wellington in 1813. These include masterpieces by Italian Old Masters such as Correggio and Giulio Romano and works by Spanish 'Golden Age' painters such as Velázquez and Murillo. Among the famous works of art on view are Velázquez's celebrated 'The Waterseller of Seville' and Goya's 'Equestrian portrait of the 1st Duke of Wellington'.
The collection also shows the 1st Duke of Wellington's taste and provides a visual record of the Napoleonic period. The great general bought important seventeenth-century Dutch paintings as well as a series of French and British portraits of his famous contemporaries and depictions of battle scenes in which he had achieved his victories.
Don't Miss
- New for 2014! Step into the new look entrance hall and experience the grandeur of this fine town house with its new displays
- The spectacular gilt Portuguese service awarded to Wellington
- The breathtaking Waterloo Gallery
- Canova's dominating statue of Napoleon