Rylands Library Manchester England, UK

The Rylands Library is stunning. After the death of multimillionaire John Rylands in 1888, his widow Enriqueta Rylands had this fabulous neo-Gothic building constructed in his honor.

The collection began with the 1892 purchase of the private library of the Second Earl Spencer. Today the library includes many rare books and prints.

The long name is the John Rylands Research Institute and Library and it's located in central Manchester. As you approach it, it looks like a Cathedral.

 Also among the holdings are medieval manuscripts, an original Gutenberg Bible, and the oldest known fragment of the Gospel of John (see fragment link)

The Rylands Library also houses a collection of art works in addition to the art in old prints and manuscripts. Visitors will see paintings, sculptures, ceramics and glass objects. According to artuk, artists represented include: Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach the elder, Andrea Mantegna, Hans Holbein the younger, Rembrandt van Rijn, William Hogarth, William Blake, and William Morris.

The Rylands Library is now part of the University of Manchester.

Notes on the inside

Coffee shop

Book and gift shop

Toilets

Special exhibitions vary - see the website for details 

There was no charge to enter in 2021 

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Resources

Rylands Website link

Google Map for the Rylands Library in Manchester

Historic notes

The Rylands Library took 10 years to build.

It opened 1 January 1900.

Enriqueta paid £210,000 in 1892 for the 2nd earl Spencer's collection.

Enriqueta paid £155,000 in 1901for the earl of Crawford's collection.

The Rylands Library is the third largest academic library in the UK.

Enriqueta Augustina Rylands was born in Havana, Cuba 31 May 1843. She lived in New York and Paris before coming to Manchester in the 1860s. She became a companion to Martha who was John Rylands' second wife. After Martha died, Enriqueta and John married 6 October 1875. Read more at this link.

Related Posts

Manchester Art Gallery

Visit Manchester England

Manchester Art Gallery England, UK

 Photo: Adoration of the Golden Calf 1660 

by Claude Gelee, called Lorrain

The Manchester Art Gallery was founded by artists in 1823. It is located on Mosley Street.

I visited in October 2021. Following are a few photos.

The Chariot Race c1882 by 

Alexander von Wagner (1838-1919)

Oil on canvas

Was he inspired by the novel, Ben Hur published in 1880?

Girl with Beret, 1951

by Lucian Freud (1922-2011)

Oil on Canvas

The Dinner Hour, Wigan 1874

by Eyre Crowe (1824-1910)

Oil on Canvas

A Victorian will scene in the village of Wigan, Lancashire

Into thy hands Lord 1879

Briton Riviere 1840-1920

Oil on Canvas

The knight faces the darkness

Writing Desk designed by William Burges

Made by Gualbert Saunders 1865-67

Painted pine and mahogany with brass and leather

Notes

The Gallery is not open everyday so check for days and hours

Inside the museum

Gallery Cafe

A museum shop

Places to rest

Activities

Location: Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3JL

Tel 0161 235 8888

Manchester Art Gallery Website

Google map Manchester Art Gallery

Related posts

National Gallery of Art, London England

National Portrait Gallery London, England

Tate Modern Art Gallery London

Victoria & Albert Museum, London England

Visit Manchester England

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   and see my books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

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Visit Manchester England, UK

 

Manchester is a large industrial city in Northwest England. The city is part of an urban county known as Greater Manchester within the historic county of Lancashire.

In the 2011 census, the Greater Manchester Population was 2,682, 528.

I arrived at Victoria Station from Liverpool and stayed downtown. After stowing my luggage, I took the bus to the Imperial War Museum-North. It's worth a visit if you are interested in the history of Britain at war since 1900.

Outside the museum, you see the river and bridge at the top of this page. I walked over to the Lowry Centre and couldn't resist the bargains.

Manchester has a lot to offer. I spent several hours at the Manchester Art Gallery.

Photo: The Chariot Race c 1882 by Alexander von Wagner

Photo: Writing desk c 1865

One fascinating place is the John Rylands Research Institute and Library known as The Rylands. The founder was Enriqueta Rylands. Enriqueta was born in Cuba in 1843. After the death of her parents, she went to England and was a companion to Martha Rylands who died in 1875. She then married John Ryland who made his millions in cotton manufacturing. Following John Rylands' death, Enriqueta build the Library, which opened in 1900. In 1972, it became part of the University of Manchester.

On another day, I took a trip up to Bury. There's a lot to see in Bury--including a ride on the historic East Lancashire Railway.

And the nearby Bury Transport Museum

So, there's a lot more to see in Manchester.

 The National Football Museum (Soccer for US friends)

 Science and Industry Museum

 The Manchester Museum

 People's History Museum

 Manchester Cathedral

 And there are parks, canals, and places to shop

Click on the highlighted links to learn more of my visit to Manchester

Google Map of Manchester

Please check out my website   www.suttong.com

   and see my books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

If you are interested in British-American culture, you might be interested in Mind the Gap

If you would like a FREE download of Mind the Gap, click this link    https://www.mindthegap.sunflower101.com/

Tate Modern Art Gallery London, England, UK

 

The Tate Modern Art Gallery in London houses international modern and contemporary art. The building was rebuilt from the structure of the former Bankside Power Station. It opened in 2000 and was expanded in 2009.

As you enter, you are in Turbine Hall --site of the former power station turbines. In 2021, satellite-like objects float above visitors.

Watch the video clip to see this action display.

The works on display at the Tate date from 1500.

I've only posted a few examples of my photos here. Below you will find a link to their vast online collection.

The Guerrilla Girls challenge the male dominated world of art in art galleries.

Yin Xiuzhen's Weapon 2003-7. Read More

In 2021, there was a special exhibition titled the Making of Rodin.

Part of the "tins" artwork by Ana Lupas. The tins contain her original wheat wreaths, which were created by locals in Transylvania, Romania.

The modern babel tower has to be experienced for a full effect. Here's a short video clip.

You can browse examples of their collection online.

Basic Information

Location: Bankside, London SE1 9TG

Goggle Map to Tate Modern

Gift Shop - Available Online

Busses: See https://tfl.gov.uk/ for the latest bus routes

Underground: Nearby tube stations are Southwark, Blackfriars, St Paul's

Fees: In 2021, general admission is free but there is a fee for special exhibitions

Bag sizes are limited to 55 x 40 x 20 cm

Food- there are cafes

Facilities: Toilets, Cloakroom

Accessibility: See https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern

Photos: Nonflash photos are permitted for personal use. No tripods.

BUY Tate Modern Books Online

I write about travel and psychology. www.suttong.com

Victoria and Albert Museum London

 The focus of the V&A (Victoria and Albert) Museum is "the world's leading museum of art, design, and performance." Indeed, the variety of objects is amazing.

Silver

Above- Christening cup and cover, King George II (1683-1760)

Above- soup tureen and ladle, 1740s, Paul de Lamerie, London

Paintings

Furniture

Gold and amazing jewelry

Copies of massive works from outside the UK

And a cornucopia of smaller objects as well

Below- bowl from Egypt c 1000-1050

Below Right Jar, Parkistan c 3000-2000 BC

Resources

V& A Museum Books- Calligraphy, Embroidery, Patchwork & Quilting, Museum Art, and more

There's more--including special exhibits

Basic Information

Location: Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL

Underground stations: South Kensington, Gloucester Road

Train nearby: Victoria Station

Buses: see tfl.gov.uk

Facilities

Toilets can be found throughout the museum

There is a buggy park/family area

Lifts are available

There are Cafes

There is a garden with outdoor seating--where I had lunch on my last visit.

Museum website https://www.vam.ac.uk/

See V & A on Google Map