The Wallace Collection is one of London’s grandest museums.
The vibe is part domestic house, part grand palace, and there’s dozens of intimate galleries stuffed with masterpieces. With artists such as Titian, Velázquez, Rubens and Van Dyck on the walls, it rivals the National Gallery for London’s best collection of old master paintings.
There’s also hundreds of Renaissance treasures, beautiful 18th century decorative arts pieces, and rooms full of princely arms and armour. It’s a real treasure trove.
But the Wallace also hosts temporary exhibitions, and there’s some landmark and exciting shows coming up this year.
So here’s what’s on at the Wallace Collection in 2025.
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Keeping Time: Clocks by Boulle
This small but exceptional display kicks off the year at the Wallace. Visitors can see all five of the Wallace’s stunning timepieces by one of history’s greatest designers André-Charles Boulle.
As the most famous cabinetmaker working for the court of the Sun King, Louis XIV (1638–1715), Boulle turned his attention to the clock after their accuracy had recently been revolutionised through the invention of the pendulum. As these sweeping weights called for larger clock cases, Boulle saw the opportunity to create bold and sumptuous designs that would go on to influence others all over the world.
The clocks on display range from one enclosed in a monumental wardrobe from 1715, two mantel clocks, one from around 1715 featuring Venus and Cupid, and another with the figure of Father Time; as well as two extraordinary pedestal clocks. Each one is a piece of cutting edge 18th-century technology.
An accompanying complimentary display unites the two magnificent artworks of The Dance to the Music of Time (about 1634-6) by Nicolas Poussin, and a bronze relief of The Borghese Dancers (1597–1656), where five female figures masquerade as the Hours, attendants to the goddesses of the Dawn and Moon.
Grayson Perry: Delusions of Grandeur
This major art exhibition will see Turner Prize-winner Sir Grayson Perry celebrate his birthday by showing over 40 brand new artworks inspired by the Wallace and its remarkable collection. It’ll be the largest contemporary art exhibition ever held at the museum.
Delusions of Grandeur will offer an elaborate commentary on the very nature of making and collecting art, touching on a variety of fascinating themes such as the creation of domestic space, the gendering of decoration, and perceived perfection versus authenticity.
The new works will range from ceramics and sculpture, to textiles, collage and painting. In fact it’ll feature the widest variety of techniques, genres and forms that Perry has ever employed for a single exhibition.
Excitingly, the show will also open on the very day Grayson Perry turns 65. So it’ll be a very special birthday bash for the much-loved artist.
Opens 28 March 2025
Caravaggio's Cupid
For the first time ever, one of Caravaggio's greatest paintings is coming to Britain.
The celebrated work — 1601’s Victorious Cupid, also known as Amor Vincit Omnia — will travel to the UK on loan from the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin in what is a huge coup for the Wallace. Director Xavier Bray has called its showing in London as “a once in a lifetime opportunity” for people to be able to see it here, and for free.
Described by the Guardian’s art critic Jonathan Jones as “Caravaggio's boldest” work, it depicts Cupid, the Roman god of desire, in a mischievous pose wearing dark eagle wings and holding two arrows.
It will be displayed alongside a marble sculpture also depicting a winged Cupid, and which is from the Wallace’s own art collection. Love Triumphant was commissioned by the museum’s founder Sir Richard Wallace in the 1870s, and was a copy of an 18th century original by Jean-Pierre Tassaert.
Displaying the works side-by-side is a nod to an ongoing debate during the Italian Renaissance over which art form was superior — painting, or sculpture.
Opens 26 November 2025