The extensive art collection inside The Lanesborough London is fascinating on many levels. Interestingly enough, the hotel, with such an elemental focus on traditional British aesthetics, shares a common thread with another of London's treasures, the National Gallery: both edifices housing notable art collections were designed by architect William Wilkins in 1827.
And then there's the Lanesborough’s sense of place, which was meant to evoke the feeling of entering an English gentleman's home in the 1830s. When the elegant hotel underwent an extensive 18-month renovation in 2015, they collaborated with Alberto Pinto Interior Design, the firm responsible for the hotel’s classically-inspired interiors, and tapped VISTO Images, a bespoke art consultancy in Paris, to curate their 2,000-piece art collection gathered to channel the history and sense of occasion a hotel of such grandeur requires. Not to be missed? The two circa 1750 Sir Joshua Reynolds portraits of Captain and Mrs. Smith.
The Lanesborough London is home to more than 2,000 works of authentic Georgian and Regency period works.
Arriving at the Lanesborough, guests often feel they are arriving at the home of a cosmopolitan, well-traveled family and living amongst the imaginary homeowners' private collection of Georgian and Regency period art works during their sojourn.
The art purposefully predates the 1830s, the moment at which the building was constructed. According to VISTO, "The hotel's authenticity comes from its art, which is the only element of the property that is as old as the building itself."
The Georgian and Regency period works were sourced from all over the world: Britain, France, Italy, Holland, Germany, and China, all of which are original Italian landscapes, studies in English portraiture, military and hunting scenes, or Northern European still lives–the types of paintings that would have been core components of a contemporary art collection of the time.
Arrangements can be made for private tours of the Lanesborough’s staggering collection for further insight into each painting’s origin and provenance. Following the tour, enjoy a taste of history in the Garden Room, featuring rare cognacs dating as far back as the 1770s.
To learn more about The Lanesborough London, or to reserve a private tour of the hotel's site-specific art collection, contact the concierge upon making a reservation.
