The Oxford Guide

Christ Church is unique among the Oxford and Cambridge colleges in possessing an important collection of Old Master paintings and drawings, housed in a purpose-built Gallery of considerable architectural interest in itself. The collection consists of some 300 paintings and almost 2000 drawings and is strongest in Italian art from the 14th to the 18th century.

The internationally renowned drawings collection in the Picture Gallery at Christ Church is regarded as one of the most important private collections of Old Master drawings in the country. These small in-house exhibitions are changed about every three months to enable the public to see a varied selection from this part of the collection.

Current Exhibitions:

5 October – 5 February 2012 Clouet to Claude: French Master drawings

While the Ashmolean is celebrating the inventor of landscape painting, Claude Lorrain, in a solo exhibition this autumn Christ Church gives a broader overview on French draughtsmanship by showcasing its collection of French drawings. This exhibition allows the viewer to celebrate the singular elegance and spirit of this original artistic school.

1 October – 5 February 2012 En Brunaille - Painted Drawings

This exhibition shows a group of painted sketches from Christ Church’s collection painted in a hue of brown tones, hence the technical term en brunaille (in brown). The works, by painters such as Anthony van Dyck and Frans Floris, can be regarded as standing between the initial sketched idea and the finished painting. They were often used to present the proposal to the client.

Opening hours:

October - May Monday, Wednesday - Saturday, 10.30am - 1pm & 2 - 4.30pm Sunday, 2 - 4.30pm;

The gallery is closed on Tuesdays from October to June.

June Monday, Wednesday - Saturday, 10.30am - 5.pm Sunday, 2 - 5pm

July, August, September Monday- Saturday, 10.30am - 5.pm Sunday, 2- 5pm

Admission: £3/£2. Free to those who have Bod cards and ArtFund members.