Located near Highbury and Islington Station, north London, the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art is home to a wide variety of 20th century Italian artworks. It opened in 1998 with a permanent collection formerly belonging to Eric Estorick (1913-93), an American sociologist and writer. There is also a rolling programme of temporary exhibitions. The space is open Wednesday to Sunday, and it costs £5 to enter (£3.50 for concessions and £2.50 for National Art Pass holders).
The building is quite small so it didn’t take me long to look around. To be honest the permanent collection didn’t grab me as much as I’d hoped, but I found a few pictures that I liked.
The temporary exhibition when I visited was Giorgio de Chirico: Myth and Mystery. The artist is best known for his paintings, but here his sculptures are on display. I must admit I’d never heard of him, but I did like his modern, occasionally creepy sculptures.
The Estorick should appeal to those interested in modern and/or Italian art. I don’t know if I’ll be rushing back (unless there’s an exhibition I particularly want to see) but that’s just my personal taste. The place itself is very pleasant and worth a visit if you think it’s something you might enjoy.
FACTS
Address: 39a Canonbury Square, London, N1 2AN
Website: estorickcollection.com
Opening Hours: Wed-Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
Prices: Adult £5, Concession £3.50