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Series

Chancery: Sheepshanks' Deed of Gift

Catalogue reference: C 151

What's it about?

C 151

This is the original deed of gift, dated 2 February 1857, whereby John Sheepshanks (1787-1863) gave his collection of pictures to the nation as a contribution to the formation of a National Gallery of British Art.The deed includes a list of the...

Full description and record details

Reference

C 151

Title
Chancery: Sheepshanks' Deed of Gift
Date

1857

Description

This is the original deed of gift, dated 2 February 1857, whereby John Sheepshanks (1787-1863) gave his collection of pictures to the nation as a contribution to the formation of a National Gallery of British Art.

The deed includes a list of the 233 oil paintings and 289 drawings that are included in the collection, and names the artists who are represented: among them Turner, Constable, Wilkie, Crome, Nasmyth, Landseer, Frith and Etty.

Sheepshanks framed his deed of gift with a view to rendering the pictures a source of education to future generations of artists, and, with this end in view, they were housed in the South Kensington (now the Victoria and Albert) Museum, where they became accessible to both students and the public alike. The deed was enrolled on the Close Rolls (C 54/15076, no.19).

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Legal status

Public Record(s)

Language

English

Physical description

1 volume(s)

Subjects
Topics
Art, architecture and design
Museums and galleries
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C3709/

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This record is held at The National Archives, Kew

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Within the department: C

Records created, acquired, and inherited by Chancery, and also of the Wardrobe, Royal...

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Chancery: Sheepshanks' Deed of Gift

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