curiouswombat entioned she had been to The Wallace Collection. I had never heard of it - so looked further and found where .... and what it was about -A free national museum, displaying superb works of art in an historic London town house. The collection was acquired principally in the 19thC by the 3rd & 4th Marquesses of Hertford & Sir Richard Wallace, the illegitimate son of the 4th Marquess. The 28 rooms, many recently refurbished with elaborate gilding & wall silks, present collections of French 18thC painting, furniture and porcelain (many once owned by Madame de Pompadour & Queen Marie-Antoinette) together with paintings by Titian, Canaletto, Rembrandt and Gainsborough, Hals' 'The Laughing Cavalier' & Fragonard's 'The Swing', 4 armouries and wonderful Renaissance treasures.
So, I decided to visit, and like her, I will say to anyone that's in London ... go ... you won't regret it.
Love the colour ... but the wallpaper seemed a bit busy for that large a room!
I wanted to bring this whole room home as a souveneir!!!
The Laughing Cavalier ... it just seemed in a weird place!
I do love Canaletto's
This is the oldest full set of horse armour anywhere.
I love this cabinet
And, finally, the house itself!
There are loads more pictures here
The official website is here