RUSSELL-COTES ART GALLERY AND MUSEM
EAST CLIFF PROMENADE, BOURNEMOUTH
PRIVATE home of extensive travellers Sir Merton Russell-Cotes and his wife Lady Annie, this was one of the last Victorian manor houses ever built.
It was an extraordinary, extravagant birthday present from Sir Merton to his wife – lavish, splendid, and with a touch of fantasy.
They filled this exotic seaside villa with beautiful objects from their travels across the world, and lined the walls with a remarkable collection of British art, creating a unique atmosphere in a most dramatic setting.
The exhibition Animals in Art is currently on, which explores the dynamic between humankind and the animal world.
There is also a Victorian garden to enjoy, with a surviving stone grotto and fountain.
The gallery and museum are open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.
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