Christ Church Picture Gallery

About the museum

The Christ Church Picture Gallery belongs to Christ Church, one of the colleges of the University of Oxford, and describes itself as Britain's first public art collection. Its core is a group of 16th- and 17th-century Italian paintings bequeathed by General John Guise, later enriched by 14th- and 15th-century paintings given by W. T. H. Fox-Strangways and Walter Savage Landor.

The paintings concentrate on Italian art from the 14th to the 18th centuries and include works by Filippino Lippi, Tintoretto, Veronese and Annibale Carracci, whose monumental Butcher's Shop is one of the most striking pictures, as well as Northern artists such as Anthony van Dyck and Frans Hals. The works on paper include about 2,000 Old Master drawings and 3,000 prints, among them drawings attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dürer, Raphael and Rubens. Because paper is sensitive to light, these are shown only in rotating exhibitions.

The gallery occupies a Grade II listed building of the 1960s that no longer provides the environmental conditions the collection needs. Since the end of April 2026 it has been closed while the building is renovated and extended, with more exhibition space, better security and climate control, and improved disabled access including a lift. During the closure the collection is kept in specialist storage and some of the best-known works are lent to other institutions.

Highlights

• Annibale Carracci, The Butcher's Shop
• Filippino Lippi, The Wounded Centaur
• Tintoretto, The Martyrdom of St Lawrence
• About 2,000 Old Master drawings, including Leonardo and Michelangelo
• Paintings by Van Dyck and Frans Hals

Founded

1968

Operated by

Christ Church, University of Oxford

Admission & discounts

The gallery is closed for renovation and extension, and no reopening date has been published.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The redevelopment is planned to bring improved disabled access, including lift access via Canterbury Quad.

Kids & families

The gallery is closed for renovation and extension, and no reopening date has been published.

Getting there & parking

The gallery is closed for renovation and extension, and no reopening date has been published.

Amenities & dining

The gallery is closed for renovation and extension, and no reopening date has been published.

Events & venue rental

The gallery is closed for renovation and extension, and no reopening date has been published.

Plan your visit