Exhibited at the Egyptian Hall, London, ca. 1851–56

In 1850, Lord Ward placed some 120 works from his collection in the “Great Room of the Egyptian Hall.”[1] His collection was noted for its Renaissance paintings, but it also contained a number of statues, including The Greek Slave, Canova’s Venus, and works by Lawrence Macdonald. The Egyptian Hall, in Piccadilly, London, was built in 1812 and initially contained a natural history museum. Designed by Peter Frederick Robinson, it featured a distinctive Egyptian façade. It was used for a variety of entertainments throughout the nineteenth century, including human displays, such as shows of the “Aztecs” and “Earthmen.” (This is further discussed in Martina Droth’s essay.) The Greek Slave is periodically mentioned as having been on display there as part of the Dudley Gallery during the 1850s.

^{[1] “Talk of the Studios,” Critic, September 2, 1850, 432.}

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Exterior view of the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, London, ca. 1900. Photograph. Museum of London, London. Exterior view of the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, London, ca. 1900. Photograph. Museum of London, London.

“Fine Arts: Lord Ward’s Collection of Pictures,” Athenaeum, July 5, 1851, 722. “Fine Arts: Lord Ward’s Collection of Pictures,” Athenaeum, July 5, 1851, 722.

“Fine Arts: Lord Ward’s Collection of Pictures,” Athenaeum, July 5, 1851, 723. “Fine Arts: Lord Ward’s Collection of Pictures,” Athenaeum, July 5, 1851, 723.