The "Grand Tour" exhibition features seventeen artworks from the British Embassy in Athens, loaned by the Government Art Collection of the United Kingdom for a long-term exhibition at the Benaki Museum. These significant works from the 19th and 20th centuries are integrated into the spaces of the permanent collections of the Museum of Greek Culture and the Gikas Gallery, following the theme of the existing museum narrative. This approach achieves new and unexpected juxtapositions, highlighting both shared histories and the strong cultural and diplomatic ties between the United Kingdom and Greece.
Works by Joseph and Anton Schranz provide a glimpse of the Greek islands during the 19th century, while the paintings and watercolors by Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika and John Craxton, displayed in the modernist Athenian residence of the former, now housing the Gikas Gallery, revive the longstanding friendship and artistic interactions between the two prominent 20th-century artists. The Government Art Collection of the United Kingdom is a unique cultural institution that promotes British art by placing artworks in British government buildings worldwide. Two-thirds of the Collection are displayed in ministries and diplomatic residences in almost every capital around the world. For over 120 years, with nearly 15,000 artworks spanning six centuries, the Government Art Collection continually enriches itself with the acquisition of new works, reflecting the diversity of British society. The Collection aims to expand public access and participation through digital platforms and collaborations worldwide.
The exhibition runs until June 1, 2026.
Benaki Museum of Greek Culture
Koumpari 1, Athens | Gikas Gallery, Kriezotou 3, Athens
Days / Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Thursday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 AM | Gikas Gallery: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM