A gallery is a room or building for the exhibition of art, typically paintings. Galleries are found in museums, art schools, and private residences. A gallery is often a small space, sometimes no larger than a single room. In large museums, galleries are often interconnected with one another so that visitors can move easily from one to the next. Some galleries contain only a few works of art while others contain hundreds or even thousands.
The word “gallery” comes from the Italian galleria, which originally meant an arcade or corridor lined with shops (such as the Corso in Florence). The etymological meaning of gallery is thus different from that of “gantry”, which refers to the overhead support structure of a bridge or crane.
Early history
The earliest known galleries were those in Roman houses, where objets d’art and other valuable items were displayed within alcoves set into walls painted with frescoes. This practice reached its peak during the 17th century, when such aristocratic displays became extremely fashionable. During this period, many grand houses would have had at least one gallery if not more; some examples include Buckingham Palace and Blenheim Palace.
In 1623 Bishop John Spofforth founded what is now The Oldest Private Museum in England at his home in Barlow Woodside Hall near Darley Dale Derbyshire – it contains family portraits going back to Elizabethan times as well as collections amassed by previous generations of the family on their Grand Tour travels around Europe. In these rooms Spofforth’s heirs could entertain guests and display works of art collected by earlier generations on their Grand Tour travels around Europe – including Titian’s Venus Anadyomene acquired by Sir Thomas Fitzherbert during his tour (1532-34).:103 Other notable historic private collectors who built up important collections which were eventually open to paying public included Cardinal Scipione Borghese (Doria Pamphilij Gallery), William Cavendish 1st Duke of Devonshire (Chatsworth House) and Charles Howard 3rd Earl of Carlisle all three patrons of Anthony van Dyck.:93-113:180-182
During the 18th century many private mansions were opened up to allow access by paying members of public for guided tours – these included Kenwood House Holkham Hall Chiswick House and Lansdowne House London among others.:121 Several painters worked directly for aristocratic clients painting portraits decorating country homes and creating conversation pieces intended specifically for display in specific locations within these properties e.g., “Conversation Pieces” created by Joshua Reynolds to be hung at various locations inside London’s Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens amusement park.