The Big City
Celebrating extraordinary artists who paint London on a huge scale.
'The Big City: London painted on a grand scale' is the new exhibition at Guildhall Art Gallery opening on 10 February. The display celebrates monumental painters of the capital and showcases some of the largest paintings in the Gallery’s collection.
Guildhall Art Gallery is home to one of the most extensive collections of London paintings in the world and hosts one of the largest oil paintings on display in the UK - John Singleton Copley’s 'Defeat of the Floating Batteries at Gibraltar' (1783–1791), measuring 7.5 x 5.4 metres.
This awe-inspiring exhibition includes many pieces not normally on public display, including rarely-seen works by Frank O. Salisbury, Terence Cuneo and David Hepher.
A unique opportunity to view so many of these huge masterpieces together in one space.
'The Big City' has now been extended to 30 July due to popular demand.
Admission
We are asking visitors to Pay What You Can to visit 'The Big City'. You can pay as much or as little as you like for your ticket or visit for free.
Income from this exhibition will help us to put on new public exhibitions and support our education and conservation programmes.
Guided tours
Join a Guildhall Art Gallery volunteer for a 45 minute tour of The Big City.
Find out how London’s power and prestige has been displayed on oversized canvases and discover important moments recorded on a huge scale.
Kindly note that these tours take place on selected dates and require a separate ticket, available from the Gallery online shop.
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Instagram competition
To celebrate the extension of our exhibition, we’re asking you to share your best #BigCitySelfie with us on Instagram. You will be in for a chance to win an exciting prize bundle!
- Take a selfie in front of your favourite painting at The Big City. They are huge, so they’ll make for an amazing selfie background!.
- Make sure you follow us on Instagram at @guildhallartlondon and post your selfie on Instagram using #BigCitySelfie to be eligible.
- Tag a friend in the comments that you would take with you if you win.
- Entry is open to UK residents aged 18+. Winner chosen at random.
- The competition runs from 00.00 on Monday 27 March to Monday 24 April at 23.59
- Participants must follow @GuildhallArt and use #TheBigSelfie to enter the competition on Instagram.
- Participants must like the pinned competition post and tag one friend in the comments to be eligible for the prize draw. Each participant will be eligible just once.
- The prize for the winner consists of:
- City Gift Card for a value of £50.00 which can be used in participating restaurants, bars, retailers, leisure activities, hotels and service providers in the City of London. Card valid until 15th March 2024.
- 2 x slots on a guided tour of the exhibition ‘The Big City’ at Guildhall Art Gallery
- 1 x exhibition catalogue
- 1 x David Hepher Gordon House cotton bag
- 1 x Mind the Gap TfL card game
- 3 x Alan Kitching Greetings Cards
- The winner will be notified by direct message on Instagram and put in touch with the Guildhall Art Gallery team to arrange the tour and the prize delivery.
