The Walker Gallery is considered to be ‘the National Gallery of the north’ and has been delighting its visitors for over 120 years with one of the finest collections of art in Europe. It is situated in the beautiful historical buildings of Liverpool’s city centre and is next to the trendy restaurants of Queen’s Square. Surrounded by formal gardens and next to the Science Museum, the Walker Gallery stands in full grandeur, creating an imposing first impression with its massive pillars and stone steps at the entrance.

Once inside, the interior is equally impressive with elegant detail and marble flooring, and a large sweeping staircase. The gallery is split into a series of rooms each with various different themes of artwork.The works are very varied and cover a large span of genres over six centuries. However, despite its classical demeanor the Walker is not limited to traditional forms of art, but covers the modern movements also, from symbolism to pop-art. Its main areas of interest include:  Italian and Netherlandish paintings, 1350 – 1550. European art, 1550 – 1900, including Rembrandt and Degas.  18th and 19th century British art, with a large section dedicated to Pre-Raphaelite works.  20th century work, including Lucian Freud, and David Hockney. It also has one of the most important sculpture collections outside London.

Fine marble figures

In the entrance, the visitor is greeted with the sculpture room which is filled with fine marble figures, from  tiny hand size works, to larger-than-life statues. This room is particularly powerful because of its surrealism, as statues of lovers stand along side those of soldiers, and the variance in size makes some of the figures dwarfs and others giants. A sense of history radiates from this room particularly, giving a flavour of ancient Greece.

The other rooms are located on the first floor, and giant paintings on the staircase wall guide the visitors upwards. The size of many of the paintings is daunting especially as they are one of the first things the visitor comes across. Just as daunting however, is the prestige some of the paintings in the gallery carry, for example, among the most influential artists featured in the gallery are, Monet, Picasso, and Rubens.

Richly decorated

The rooms are very richly decorated in deep colours to compliment the older paintings and their elaborate gold frames. To help give a true appreciation of the pieces a small explanatory plaque is placed directly next to them. This gives background knowledge on the artist and the inspiration behind the work. The Walker Gallery has areas where it shows particular expertise. For example, they are one of the leading sites in Britain for Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces. Exhibitions visit the gallery regularly offering a variation of works, keeping the gallery vibrant and changeable.

 At the moment one of the main exhibitions is of the painter George Stubbs, famous for his depiction of horses and deep interest in their anatomy. Currently a fashion exhibition is also running, and consisting of women’s clothes from the nineteenth century to the first half of the twentieth. It is not what is generally expected of an art gallery, but serves to remind its audience that art comes in many forms. It also offers visitors a break from the well recognized forms of art, such as paintings and sculptures. All of the 130 items on display in the exhibition have been selected from a substantial collection of 700 items formerly belonging to Mrs. Emily Margaret Tinne and they represent the largest surviving collection of period clothes from one person's wardrobe in Britain.

Rainbow painted footprints

The gallery is well set out for children; providing games and activities to help them understand and enjoy art, and leads them through the gallery with a trail of rainbow painted footprints. However the gallery also accommodates dedicated artists, allowing them to sit and copy the pieces of art in a calm and quiet atmosphere.

There are lots of free special events and activities for children age 6 and under planned for the summer. For example, there is a Big Art club, giving parents a chance to meet other parents and children.  If art is not really you thing, and you’ve been dragged along by an art-fanatical friend, you too can find something to keep you occupied. There is a café on the ground floor to serve refreshments, light snacks and drinks; perfect to relax and waste an hour or two in. The café is very popular as the gallery is quite large, and many appreciate the opportunity for a break. The whole gallery, from the café to the fashion exhibition is always busy but never hectic. It welcomes those who have no knowledge of art as much as those who are experts in it.

 Even if you do not enjoy art, the Walker is worth a look, simply for the historical education it provides, and sense of cultural diversity. It is also free to enter and as it is opposite Liverpool’s central train station and bus station, is convenient if you have a time to spare. So if you’re in Liverpool there are no excuses not to give it a go!