Tate Britain Famous Paintings: 33 Artworks to See

Tate Britain houses the national collection of British art from 1500 to the present day, founded by sugar magnate Henry Tate who donated his personal collection and funded the building. The gallery opened in 1897 at Millbank, on the site of a former prison. Tate's gift included 65 paintings, among them John Everett Millais's Ophelia and J.W. Waterhouse's The Lady of Shalott. The museum holds the world's largest collection of works by J.M.W. Turner, who bequeathed over 300 oil paintings and 30,000 watercolors to the nation.

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood is particularly well represented, with major works by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, and Edward Burne-Jones. George Stubbs's horse paintings and Waterhouse's mythological scenes draw steady crowds. The Clore Gallery wing, opened in 1987, provides dedicated space for the Turner Bequest. When Tate Modern opened in 2000, this gallery was renamed Tate Britain and refocused entirely on British art. Entry to the permanent collection is free.

Tate Britain in London, United Kingdom houses 33 masterpieces in our database, including works by Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and John William Waterhouse and 12 other artists. Notable works include Proserpine and Ophelia.

Top Genres at Tate Britain

Religious(3)Mythological(1)Landscape(1)

Famous Works at Tate Britain

Browse 33 notable artworks in our database. Click any work to see details and plan your visit.

Proserpine

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1874

Tate Britain, London

Visiting Tate Britain

Millais's Ophelia (1852) is the star piece. Waterhouse's Hylas and the Nymphs and Rossetti's Proserpine fill the Pre-Raphaelite galleries.

One of the world's best. Burne-Jones's Golden Stairs, Waterhouse's Circe Offering the Cup, and multiple Rossetti works. The Pre-Raphaelite galleries alone are worth the trip.

Yes, the permanent collection is free. Special exhibitions charge separately. On Millbank near the Thames in Westminster. Sargent's Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose is in the late Victorian galleries.

Turner has an entire wing (the Clore Gallery) with over 300 paintings. Alma-Tadema's A Favorite Custom, Sargent, Constable, and Francis Bacon also feature prominently.

British art from 1500 to the present. The chronological walk covers Tudor portraiture, 18th-century landscapes, Pre-Raphaelite painting, Romantic works, and contemporary British art. The annual Turner Prize exhibition happens here.

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 Tate Britain directly to confirm specific artwork availability before your visit.

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