Pallant House Gallery

Pallant House Gallery is an art gallery in Chichester, West Sussex, England. It houses one of the best collections of modern British art from the 20th century in the world. [ [http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART43841.html Gulbenkian Prize 2007 longlist - Pallant House Gallery] , from 24 Hour Museum] [ [http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/museums/museum-profile/Pallant+House+Gallery/88.html Profile] of the Pallant House Gallery from the Saatchi Gallery.]

The Gallery's collection is founded on works left to the city of Chichester by Walter Hussey in 1977, on his retirement from the position as Dean of Chichester Cathedral which he held from 1955. Hussey's collection included works by Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, John Piper, Ceri Richards and Graham Sutherland. Hussey stipulated that the collection must be shown in Pallant House, a Grade 1 listed Queen Anne townhouse built in 1712 for wine merchant Henry "Lisbon" Peckham and his wife Elizabeth. It is a fine, brick-built building with large windows, with stone ostriches from the Peckham family arms guarding the entrance gateway, and a fine oak staircase inside. Its urbane design from a London architect was the subject of a suit in Chancery, for William Smart, mason of Chichester, provided a design about 1711, but the Peckhams went to London and obtained another design, designated "the London modell" in court papers. The architect was not identified. [Howard Colvin, "A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840" 3rd ed. 1995: sub "Henry Smart", quoting Sibylla J. Flower, in "Pallant House" (Chichester 1993) pp 32-34.] The building had been used as Council offices since 1919. The building was restored in 1979, and the gallery opened in 1982. It has been managed by an independent trust since 1985.

The Gallery's collection has been augmented by other donations. In 1989, property developer Charles Kearley donated works by British artists such as John Piper and Ben Nicholson and European artists such as Paul Cézanne, André Derain, Fernand Léger, and Gino Severini. In 2006, architect Sir Colin St John Wilson donated works by Michael Andrews, Peter Blake, David Bomberg, Patrick Caulfield, Lucian Freud, Richard Hamilton, R. B. Kitaj, Eduardo Paolozzi and Walter Sickert. Many of the works were acquired directly from the artists, who were friends of Wilson: indeed, he designed homes for several. Other works are displayed on long-term loan, many on the understanding that they will be donated to the gallery in due course. As well as modern British art, the Gallery has one of the world's outstanding collections of 18th century Bow porcelain, donated by Geoffrey Freeman.

A new wing was opened in June 2006, designed by Sir Colin Wilson and Long & Kentish. The £8.6 million project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts Council England, the local council, and other donors. The unashamedly modern block, which stands next to and integrates with the original Queen Anne building, won the 2007 Gulbenkian Prize; [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/6689143.stm Gallery wins 'biggest' arts award] , BBC News, 24 May 2007.] in the words of the judges, the juxtaposition creates "a vibrant relationship between old and new ... continued in a series of inspired contemporary installations" which are housed within. [ [http://www.thegulbenkianprize.org.uk/press/pr250507.htm Pallant House Gallery wins £100,000 Gulbenkian Prize] , press release, 25 May 2007.] The extension was also listed for a 2007 RIBA award. It is believed to be the first art gallery in the UK which is heated and cooled by a geothermal system, using water pumped through 69 pipes descending 35 metres under the building, connected to reversible heat pumps, which roughly halves its carbon emissions. To the rear is a new courtyard garden, designed by Christopher Bradley-Hole, a Chelsea Flower Show gold medallist.

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References

* [http://www.pallant.org.uk/ Pallant House Gallery website]