Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art facts for kids
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| Location | 39A Canonbury Square, Islington, London N1 |
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The Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art is a special museum in London, England. It's the only art gallery in the United Kingdom that focuses entirely on modern art from Italy. You can find it in Canonbury Square in the Islington area. This museum is a non-profit organization, which means it's run for the public good, not to make money.
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About the Estorick Collection
The Estorick Collection was started by an American named Eric Estorick (1913–1993). He was a writer and studied how societies work. Eric began collecting art after he moved to England following the Second World War.
How the Collection Started
In 1947, Eric and his wife, Salome (1920–1989), were on their honeymoon. They discovered a book about Futurist Painting and Sculpture by an artist named Umberto Boccioni. This book sparked their interest in Italian art. Before their trip ended, they visited a famous Futurist artist, Mario Sironi, in Milan, Italy. They bought many artworks from his studio, including hundreds of drawings!
Most of their amazing art collection was put together between 1953 and 1958. The collection was shown in different art shows, including one at the famous Tate Gallery in London in 1956. Some of their most important artworks were even on loan to the Tate from 1966 to 1975. Eric and Salome Estorick were offered money to sell their collection to the Italian government and museums in other countries, but they said no.
Just six months before he passed away, Eric Estorick created the Eric and Salome Estorick Foundation. He gave all his Italian artworks to this foundation. This made sure the collection would stay together and be shared with everyone.
The Museum Building
The Estorick Collection moved into its current home in 1998. The building is called Northampton Lodge. It used to be the home and office of a famous British architect named Basil Spence. The building is a Georgian house, which means it was built in the Georgian era (1714-1830). It's also a "Grade II listed building," which means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected. The museum was able to move here thanks to help from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
What Art You Can See
The main focus of the Estorick Collection is Futurist art. Futurism was an exciting art movement that started in Italy in the early 20th century. It celebrated speed, technology, youth, and violence. But the museum also has other types of Italian art and sculptures from the late 1800s to the 1950s.
Famous Artists in the Collection
You can see paintings by the main artists of Futurism, such as:
- Giacomo Balla
- Umberto Boccioni
- Carlo Carrà
- Gino Severini
- Luigi Russolo
- Ardengo Soffici
The collection also features works by other important Italian artists, including:
- Giorgio de Chirico
- Amedeo Modigliani
- Giorgio Morandi
- Mario Sironi
- Marino Marini
Besides its permanent collection, the Estorick Collection often hosts special temporary exhibitions. This means there's always something new and interesting to see!
