Fitzwilliam Museum (University of Cambridge), Cambridge

Q: What famous paintings does the Fitzwilliam Museum have?

John Everett Millais's Bridesmaid and Delacroix's Odalisque are highlights. Rossetti's portrait of Elizabeth Siddal is a key Pre-Raphaelite drawing.

Q: Is the Fitzwilliam Museum free to visit?

Yes, admission is always free. It's on Trumpington Street in central Cambridge, a short walk from King's College. Gainsborough's portraits are in the upper galleries alongside other British paintings.

Q: What art movements does the Fitzwilliam cover?

Strong in Pre-Raphaelite and Romantic painting. The Baroque galleries include Spanish and Italian works. Antiquities, illuminated manuscripts, and armor round out the collection.

Q: Who founded the Fitzwilliam?

Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion left his art collection and library to Cambridge University in 1816. The neoclassical building opened in 1848. Murillo's religious paintings were among the early European acquisitions.

Q: What else is worth seeing besides the paintings?

The antiquities galleries are first-rate, covering Egyptian, Greek, and Roman objects. The coin collection is one of Britain's finest. Millais's works sit near a strong group of English watercolors and prints.

Cambridge, UK

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Visitor Information

Museum Address

Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RB, United Kingdom

Cambridge, UK

Ticket Prices

Free (exhibitions may charge)

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Featured Artists

10 artists in database

1John Everett Millais2 works 2Dante Gabriel Rossetti2 works 3Thomas Gainsborough2 works 4Filippo Lippi1 work 5Bartolomé Esteban Murillo1 work

The Fitzwilliam Museum opened in 1848 as one of Britain's finest university museums, founded through the bequest of Richard FitzWilliam, 7th Viscount FitzWilliam. When he died in 1816, he left Cambridge University his art collection, library, and £100,000 to build "a good substantial museum repository." Architect George Basevi designed the grand Palladian building, completed by C.R. Cockerell after Basevi's death. The museum houses over 500,000 objects spanning antiquities, paintings, manuscripts, and decorative arts.

The painting collection of nearly 2,000 works includes Filippo Lippi's luminous Madonna of Humility and Palma Vecchio's Venetian beauties. British art shines through Gainsborough's portraits, William Blake's visionary prints, and strong Pre-Raphaelite holdings including works by Millais and Rossetti. Delacroix's sensuous Odalisque represents French Romanticism. Charles Brinsley Marlay's 1912 bequest added paintings, manuscripts, and decorative arts. The Egyptian galleries rival those of the British Museum. The Friends of the Fitzwilliam, founded in 1909, became Britain's first museum support society.

Visiting Fitzwilliam Museum (University of Cambridge), Cambridge

John Everett Millais's Bridesmaid and Delacroix's Odalisque are highlights. Rossetti's portrait of Elizabeth Siddal is a key Pre-Raphaelite drawing.

Yes, admission is always free. It's on Trumpington Street in central Cambridge, a short walk from King's College. Gainsborough's portraits are in the upper galleries alongside other British paintings.

Strong in Pre-Raphaelite and Romantic painting. The Baroque galleries include Spanish and Italian works. Antiquities, illuminated manuscripts, and armor round out the collection.

Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion left his art collection and library to Cambridge University in 1816. The neoclassical building opened in 1848. Murillo's religious paintings were among the early European acquisitions.

The antiquities galleries are first-rate, covering Egyptian, Greek, and Roman objects. The coin collection is one of Britain's finest. Millais's works sit near a strong group of English watercolors and prints.

Please note: Artwork locations and display status may change. Some paintings may be on loan, in restoration, or moved to different galleries within the museum. We recommend contacting Fitzwilliam Museum (University of Cambridge), Cambridge directly to confirm specific artwork availability before your visit.

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Fitzwilliam Museum (University of Cambridge), Cambridge

Visitor Information

Museum Address

Ticket Prices

Featured Artists

Famous Works at Fitzwilliam Museum (University of Cambridge), Cambridge

Odalisque

The Vision of Fray Lauterio

The Soldiers Casting Lots for Christ's Garments

Portrait of Heneage Lloyd and his Sister, Lucy

John Kirby

Working the land

A male nude

Venus and Cupid

The Bridesmaid

Emily Patmore

Madonna of Humility with Angels and Donor

Mary Magdalene at the door of Simon the Pharisee

Elizabeth Siddal

Visiting Fitzwilliam Museum (University of Cambridge), Cambridge

Other Museums in Cambridge

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Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, MA

Can't Make It to Cambridge?