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Holburne Museum’s new £2.5m gallery to display ‘Renaissance treasures’

Image: The 2011 extension to Holburne Museum, Bath

The Bath museum plans to convert its lower ground floor into a gallery showcasing Renaissance artifacts from the Schroder family collection.

Bath’s Holburne Museum has announced plans for a new gallery which will display Renaissance objects from the Schroder family collection.

The £2.5m gallery on the lower ground floor will be created from the conversion of its archive and picture stores. It will house the private collections of silverware, as well as paintings, bronzes, maiolica and gems, which are on long-term loan.

The gallery is being designed by architect Eric Parry, responsible for the museum’s 2011 extension.

The Schroder family collection includes one of a set of twelve cups commissioned by Pope Clement VIII, paintings by artists such as Lucas Cranach the Elder and Hans Holbein the Elder, and masterpieces of 16th century Italian maiolica and bronze sculpture, including Giambologna’s Nessus and Deianeira.

The works have been offered to the Holburne from the Estate of late British banker Bruno Schroder by his daughter Leonie.

Leonie Schroder called the museum “a gem”, adding, “[w]e are delighted to have found the perfect place to ensure that the collection, built up by my family over many generations, can be seen at its very best by a wider audience.”

Director of the Holburne Museum, Dr Chris Stephens, said: “We are honoured that Leonie Schroder has chosen the Holburne as the best home for her family’s extraordinary collection of Renaissance silver, paintings, sculpture and ceramics.

“In creating a new gallery to present the collection in a beautiful and exciting way, her generosity is enabling us to further raise the status of the museum and the quality and range of the art that we show. It is truly a once in a generation opportunity.”

Work is to start this summer and is expected to be complete in 2025. The museum will stay open throughout the project.