The Burrell Collection is a world-class art museum located in a country-like park on the outskirts of Glasgow. Its collection of some 9,000 works of art is particularly strong in Impressionist painting as well as in Medieval Art, Chinese art, and Islamic art.

Sir William Burrell and his wife Constance were the primary benefactors behind this museum. Sir William was born into a middle class Glasgow family in 1861. With a flare for business, he made a fortune by growing the family ship-owning company. In 1901, he married Constance Mary Mitchell, who was heir to another fortune made largely by owning ships.

Even as a boy, Sir William had a keen interest in art, buying his first work of art with the proceeds from selling his cricket bat. Over the years, he used his fortune to amass a great art collection and to acquire a well-respected knowledge of the subject. After their marriage, Constance became an active partner in these endeavors.

In addition to collecting, Sir William became an active part of the British art world. He served as a trustee for the National Galleries of Scotland and for the Tate Gallery.

Sir William felt strongly that the collection should benefit the public. Works from the collection were loaned to various museums including the Kelvingrove in Glasgow. During the 1930s, he and Constance began to consider making the entire collection available to the public. One idea they considered was to have the collection become a separate government-managed institution in London similar to the Wallace Collection. They also considered donating it to the Tate Gallery. However, neither idea could be worked out.

Eventually, in 1943, the Burrells donated the collection - - worth over one million pounds at the time - - to the City of Glasgow. In addition, a further 450,000 pounds was donated to build a museum to house the collection.

Sir William had strong ideas about where and how the collection should be displayed. Consequently, the gift specified that the collection be displayed in a separate building in a park-like setting near but not in the center of Glasgow. Finding a location that met Sir William's specifications proved difficult. Consequently, it was not until 1967 that a suitable location was found.

Located about three miles from the center of Glasgow, Pollock House and its estate of some 360 acres consists of parkland and wooded areas. It is amazing that a site of such natural beauty and tranquility can exist so close to a major city.

Having obtained the site, the City of Glasgow held a competition to design a building for the museum. This competition was won by a group of architects from Cambridge University led by Barry Gasson. Their three-story contemporary building makes judicious use of large windows to bring in natural light and provide views of the surroundings.

The museum was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1983 and was immediately popular with both the critics and the public.

In 2016, the museum closed for refurbishment. More than 68 million pounds were spent to expand the gallery space, increases sustainability and to make various other improvements. The Burrell re-opened in 2022.

I traveled by train from Glasgow Central Station to Pollockshaws West station, a short journey. From there, I walked a short distance to the entrance of Pollock County Park. You have the option of taking a free shuttle bus that connects the park's various attractions including Pollock House (managed by the National Trust for Scotland) as well as the Burell. However, since the weather was fine, I decided to walk along the trails that lead through the woodland.

I came out of the woods to a large expanse of parkland. The museum is a low-lying building that sprawls across the grassy field and up the side of  a gentle hill. Woodlands frame the building.

Inside, the building has a feeling of space and openness. Paintings, tapestries and furniture are sometimes mixed together in double-height rooms. Some of the three-dimensional works are set off by large windows looking out into the woodlands. It is an interesting way to display art.

The collection is outstanding. It includes masterpieces by Degas, Cezanne and Manet, as well as works by Rembrandt, Rodin, Sisley, Courbet, Fantin-Latour, Lavery and the Scottish Colorists. Then, there are galleries of Ancient and Medieval art as well as Asian masterpieces.

In addition to the permanent collection, the museum hosts temporary or visiting exhibitions.

The Burrells also has amenities such as a shop, a cafe and a learning center.

For more information about visiting, see the Burrel Collection's website.   

The open-architecture of the Burrell allows for a variety of gallery arrangements.

Places to see art ​ - Glasgow, Scotland - The Burrell Collection