Immersing yourself in art from the cosy confines of your armchair, a drink in hand and your favourite music playing in the background – it’s a far cry from the typical museum experience. Yet many of the artworks in M’s collection once adorned the walls of private collectors’ homes. ‘Art that Moves’ showcases a selection of objects that have made the journey from private collections to the museum, some of which went straight from the mantelpiece to the gallery.
M’s collection has long been shaped by donations, bequests and long-term loans from private collectors. This trend continues today, as we accepted two complete private collections on loan last year, amounting to some 142 new artworks. Ranging from medieval sculptures and 17th-century landscape paintings to modern prints, we are now sharing these objects with the public for the first time. In conjunction with various other pieces in our collection that were once in private ownership, these artworks offer insights into how art is collected and cherished.