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Guildhall Art Gallery and London's Roman Amphitheatre

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Guildhall Art Gallery and London's Roman Amphitheatre

The Gallery also runs a regular exhibition and events programme. The original building was destroyed during a severe air raid in 1941. Facebook is a public page.
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A fine art collection spanning 400 years, including depictions of London, works by major Victorian artists, and the underground ruins of London's Roman Amphitheatre. Guildhall Art Gallery was established in 1886 as 'a Collection of Art Treasures worthy of the capital city'. In 1988, when the Gallery was being rebuilt on its original site, Museum of London archaeologists discovered the remains of L

ondon’s Roman Amphitheatre. The new building was redesigned to incorporate the underground Roman ruins and opened in 1999. Please bear this in mind when posting your comments, especially regarding personal information. Further information on the City of London Corporation can be found at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk. The City of London Corporation is always happy to hear from you but please keep posts relevant. All comments will be monitored by Facebook and the City and any comments that are offensive or inappropriate will be removed. People who persistently cause conflict or offence to others will be removed and blocked from our social media pages.

03/09/2026

Today's featured artwork invites us to look a little closer at the idea of reflection🪞

🖼️ 'Self-Portrait in a Mirror' by Konstantin Andreevich Somov, from Ashmolean Museum.

This intriguing pastel drawing shows Somov reflected in a mirror, a familiar feature of many self-portraits. Yet alongside the clear image at the centre, the artist includes a second, partial reflection in the mirror's bevelled edge. Distorted and less certain, it hints at a more complex inner world beneath the calm exterior presented to the viewer.

This drawing was produced later in Somov’s life, when the artist was in his late fifties and living in Paris. Although he never married, Somov enjoyed a long, intimate and possibly romantic relationship with a younger man named Methodiy Lukyanov. A few years after the creation of this work, Lukyanov died of tuberculosis, which was a great emotional blow to Somov.

What do you think Somov was trying to reveal through these contrasting reflections? ✨

Art UK

01/09/2026

🔎 Roman London, uncovered!

This weekend, explore fascinating artefacts from the Thames foreshore, including remarkable Roman finds that reveal stories of London’s past.

Join us at the Mudlarking Exhibition, to meet experienced mudlarkers, hear about their discoveries, and delve deeper into the history hidden beneath the river’s surface.

📅 5-6 September
📍 London’s Roman Amphitheatre
🎟️ Free entry, no booking required

As part of the Totally Thames Festival, a programme of free talks will explore different aspects of mudlarking, offering a unique insight into the treasures uncovered along the Thames.

Find out more via the link in the comments.

27/08/2026

Today's featured artwork celebrates our four-legged friends in honour of International Dog Day 🐾

🖼️ 'A Blockade Runner' by Briton Rivière, from Tate.

Briton Rivière was one of Britain's most celebrated animal painters, with dogs and lions among his favourite subjects. While his depictions of lions were often based on preserved specimens and existing images, he preferred to paint dogs from life, drawing on his lifelong affection for them. In an 1897 interview, he admitted: "I have always been a great lover of dogs but I have worked at them so much that I've grown tired of having them about me."

Many of Rivière's paintings were designed to tug at the heartstrings, exploring the bond between people and their canine companions through emotional and dramatic scenes. A Blockade Runner, however, showcases his lighter side. Here, a startled cat makes a narrow escape from a lively gathering of dogs, giving the artist the perfect opportunity to demonstrate his skill in capturing a variety of breeds and sizes.

The painting is full of movement, humour and character, reminding us why dogs have remained such beloved companions throughout history. 🐕🐩🐾

Do you have a favourite dog in art, or perhaps a canine companion who brightens your day?

Art UK

25/08/2026

🎧 Jock McFadyen talks about 'Ghost'.

Listen to the first in a series of artist spotlights on artworks featured in the exhibition 'Underground and Surface' at Guildhall Art Gallery. Hear insights into a selection of paintings chosen by the artist himself.

In this recording, Jock McFadyen discusses his painting 'Ghost', explaining why he gave it this title and how emptiness became the subject of the work.

The exhibition has been extended until 27 September 2026 due to popular demand. Don't miss out!

🔉 Soundscape by Jem Finer .

City of London Corporation: City View OneCity London Oil Paintings

24/08/2026

🚨 LAST CHANCE TO EXPLORE! 🚨

This is your final week to visit Re-Imagining Londinium and discover eight stunning artworks by talented young artists, inspired by the stories of Roman London.

Follow the trail through the City’s historic streets, uncover all 8 installations, and learn more about what life was like nearly 2,000 years ago.

📍Pick up a guide at the City Information Centre or download the trail online.

City of London Corporation: City View OneCity London

20/08/2026

Today's featured artwork takes us to the bustling shipyards of Belfast and the promise of journeys across the sea 🌊 .

🖼️ 'Bangor Boat' by Robert Ponsonby Staples, from Ulster Museum, Belfast.

Belfast was once one of the world's great centres of shipbuilding, producing some of the most luxurious ocean liners ever built, including the ill-fated Titanic. 'Bangor Boat' forms part of a triptych, alongside scenes showing a turbine factory and a ship under construction. Here, the story reaches its conclusion: a completed vessel stands ready for departure as elegantly dressed passengers board and steam rises from its funnels, signalling the beginning of a new voyage.

Robert Ponsonby Staples was a member of the Anglo-Irish Staples Baronetcy of County Tyrone and was known not only for his artistic talent but also for his eccentric personality. One of the more unusual stories about him is that he reportedly spent time each day walking barefoot outdoors, believing that doing so allowed him to absorb beneficial electricity from the Earth.

Do you have a preferred painting that evokes the feeling of being on holiday? ⛵

Art UK

19/08/2026

Discover how tapestry has evolved from a historic craft into a vibrant and relevant contemporary art form.

🖼 'Beyond Bayeux: Tapestry Now' opens on 23 October 2026.

18/08/2026

🧵✨ COMING THIS AUTUMN | Beyond Bayeux: Tapestry Now ✨🧵

Opening at Guildhall Art Gallery on 23 October, 'Beyond Bayeux: Tapestry Now' celebrates tapestry as one of the world's oldest and most exciting contemporary art forms.

Presented in partnership with the internationally renowned Dovecot Studios, this major exhibition coincides with the historic return of the Bayeux Tapestry to the UK for the first time in almost 1,000 years, exploring how artists are reimagining the medium for the 21st century.

Exhibition highlights include:
✨ More than 20 contemporary tapestries created with world-leading artists in collaboration with Dovecot's master weavers.
✨ A monumental new commission by Turner Prize-nominated artist Hurvin Anderson
✨ A tapestry version of celebrated David Hockney's 'Play within a Play'
✨ 'The Garden Carpet' by Farshid Moussavi and Dovecot Studios
✨Works by Yinka Shonibare, Alberta Whittle, Rachel Maclean and Tania Kovats
✨ A programme of talks, tours and special events exploring tapestry's past, present and future

Join us as we trace the evolution of a centuries-old craft and celebrate the artists transforming tapestry into one of today's most compelling creative mediums.

📅 Opens 23 October
📍 Guildhall Art Gallery
📸©Paul Wilkinson, Dovecot Studios
📸©Richard Schmidt. Estate of David Hockney

OneCity London City of London Corporation: City View

13/08/2026

It's time for our weekly with Art UK. We're exploring forms of portraiture in connection with 'Who am I to you?' at Leeds University Library Galleries.

🖼️ Our featured artwork is 'Head of E.O.W. III' by Frank Auerbach, from the collection of Manchester Art Gallery.

Estella Olive West was one of the people Frank Auerbach painted most frequently throughout his career. West ran a boarding house in Earl's Court where Auerbach lodged, and despite being 15 years his senior, she became his lover and she would regularly pose for his art.

Auerbach's portraits are known for their highly abstract style. In Head of E.O.W. III, West is almost unrecognisable. Between their style and the artist’s habit of giving only the initials of his sitters, the portraits are paradoxically anonymous yet intimate, capturing the personal feelings of Auerbach towards his subject in swirls of colour and thickly applied paint.

What do you think about our 'portrait' choice? 🎨

12/08/2026

🎉 Extended by popular demand!

We're about to fill our third visitors' book with your wonderful comments about 'Jock McFadyen with Jem Finer: Underground and Surface'.

The response to the exhibition has been incredible, and after reading so many thoughtful reviews, we've decided to keep the show open for one extra week, giving more people the chance to experience it before it closes.

Originally due to end on 20 September 2026, the exhibition will now remain open until 27 September 2026.

If you haven't had the opportunity to visit over the summer, now is your chance to discover this captivating exhibition, featuring Jock McFadyen's powerful paintings alongside Jem Finer's immersive soundscape.

💬 Scroll through some of the comments left by visitors and see why audiences have been calling it a must-see exhibition.

📍 Guildhall Art Gallery
📅 Extended until 27 September 2026

OneCity London City of London Corporation: City View Oil Paintings

Address

Guildhall Yard
London
EC2V5AE

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	10am - 5pm

Website

https://www.thecityofldn.com/guildhall-gallery-and-amphitheatre/

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