Later_history_.E2.80.93_Bourgeois.2C_Desenfans_and_Sir_John_Soane Dulwich_Picture_Gallery

francis bourgeois , noël desenfans

the dulwich collection improved in size , quality sir francis bourgeois (1753–1811), switzerland, , business partner, frenchman noël desenfans (1744–1807). involvement saw gallery make significant steps towards present state, , credited founders of dulwich picture gallery. ran art dealership in london , in 1790 commissioned king of polish–lithuanian commonwealth, stanislaus augustus, assemble national collection poland encourage fine arts in country. desenfans had lobbied british government create similar british national collection , offered contribute it, unenthusiastically received. touring around europe buying fine art, bourgeois , desenfans took 5 years assemble collection, 1795 polish–lithuanian commonwealth had been partitioned , no longer existed.

bourgeois , desenfans attempted sell collection unsuccessful. instead, sold small pieces fund purchase of other important works , kept collection in desenfans house in charlotte street. after death of desenfans in 1807, bourgeois inherited collection. commissioned sir john soane design , construct mausoleum @ desenfans house, unable secure freehold. bourgeois bequeathed collection college of god s gift on advice of actor john philip kemble, friend of both dealers. bourgeois left instructions in construction of gallery in dulwich, designed soane, in display collection. next original college buildings chapel. left £2,000 construction costs , £4,000 contributed desenfan s widow.

the gallery opened students of royal academy of arts in 1815, 2 years before official opening public, delay due problem gallery s heating system. became popular venue copyists london schools of art. collection frequented many cultural figures on next hundred years, many of whom first visited students, including john constable, william etty, joseph mallord william turner, , later vincent van gogh. charles dickens mentions dulwich picture gallery in novel pickwick papers, samuel pickwick, novel s protagonist, visitor gallery in retirement.