The Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art opened in London in 1998 in a restored Grade II listed Georgian building, and contains six galleries, an art library, cafe and bookshop. The Collection is known internationally for its core of Futurist works, as well as figurative art and sculpture dating from 1890 to the 1950s.
Pros
- Some well-known artists included.
- Free for students.
- Welcoming cafe with seating in the garden in fine weather.
Cons
- Not fully accessible: wheelchair access to galleries 1-2, café, shop and toilets only.
- Rather specialist and a niche audience.
Visit Duration
1 hour
Siniolchun from the left hand side of the Zemu Glacier, 1899 (telephotograph); Silver gelatine print, 396 x 297 mm, from an 18 x 24 plate
Courtesy of the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian ArtOpening Hours
Wednesday to Saturday: 11am - 6pmSunday: 12pm - 5pm
Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Tickets
Check official website for latest ticket prices.Free to school children and students with valid NUS ID card.
- Visit this attraction for free with a London Pass
- Find out more about the London Pass.
- Buy the London Pass now.
Admission to café and shop free.
Estorick Gallery Shop
The shop offers a range of postcards, catalogues and posters relating to the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.Gallery Cafe
The Italian café is licensed (serves alcohol) and has outdoor seating in the landscaped garden. The cafe is popular for light lunches with daily specials, cakes and pastries.Gallery Talks
There are regular informal gallery talks on Saturday afternoons at 3pm which last approximately 40 minutes and are free with an admission ticket purchased on the day.See Events for more details.
Contact Information
Address
Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art
39a Canonbury Square
London
N1 2AN
See location map.
Nearest Tube Station
Highbury & Islington
Use Journey Planner to plan your route by public transport.
Telephone Number
020 7704 9522
Email:
info@estorickcollection.com
Official Website:
www.estorickcollection.com
Nearby Dining
S&M (Sausage and Mash) CafeEstorick Collection Information
The Estorick Collection was amassed by Eric Estorick (1913-93), an American sociologist and writer, who began to collect works of art when he came to live in England after the Second World War. Eric Estorick's story is an interesting one. Born in Brooklyn, The Gallery of Living Art in Washington Square College, New York was Estorick's inspiration to become an art collector himself.
He visited Europe in the 1940s and began to buy drawings by artists such as Picasso, Gris, Léger, and Braque. He met his wife, Salome, while traveling and they honeymooned in Switzerland, where he discovered Umberto Boccioni's book Futurist Painting and Sculpture (1914) which marked the beginning of his passion for Italian art.
The Tate Gallery requested a long-term loan of key works from 1966 until 1975, when the Estoricks withdrew their pictures and went to live in Barbados. In 1979 the Italian government tried to purchase the collection but the family refused the offer, along with others from museums in the United States and Israel. Six months prior to his death, Estorick set up the Eric and Salome Estorick Foundation, to which he donated all his Italian works. A Georgian house at 39a Canonbury Square, Islington, was purchased in 1994 and refurbished with a substantial grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to house the collection, art library, café and shop.
