Famous paintings in London - Art and galleries

Time Out's guide to must-see works of art in the city

Not only is London home to a vibrant and ever-changing contemporary art scene but it’s also the place to see some of the world’s greatest historical artworks. For a crash fine art primer Helen Sumpter rounds up the top 20 unmissable paintings in the permanent collections of London’s major museums and galleries.

1. 'A Bar at the Folies-Bergère' by Edouard Manet

A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, 1881-2 by Edouard Manet - © Samuel Courtauld Trust, The Courtauld Gallery, London

In Manet’s late, great modernist masterpiece, a barmaid at Paris’s premier nightclub of the day appears lost in thought, but what she’s thinking about is as much a puzzle as the woman’s displaced reflection, seemingly engaged in conversation with a top-hatted gentlemen in the mirror behind her.

See 'A Bar at the Folies-Bergère' by Edouard Manet at The Courtauld Gallery.

Next ►

Find your favourite unmissable painting

Find out what exhibitions are on at...

Email Tweet Share

Share your thoughts

Name (will appear on the site) *
Email (will not appear on the site) *
Enter text...
Tick to receive relevant updates from Time Out including news, events, offers and competitions.

* Mandatory fields for leaving a comment

Comments

By Goetz Kluge - Dec 12 2011

Did you know that the Ditchley Portrated inspired henry holiday when he did his illustrations to Lewis Carroll's "The Hunting of the Snark"?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonnetmaker/6225601995/
British art historians still didn't notice it.

Best regards from Munich
Goetz Kluge