Paintings were among the first objects acquired by Glasgow ship-owner Sir William Burrell for his collection, and he was still buying them shortly before his death at the age of 96. In the second of three programmes John Julius Norwich , with Philip Vainker , Assistant Keeper in charge of Fine Art, looks at some of the paintings, prints and drawings now on show at the Burrell Collection in Glasgow's Pollok Park.
While the collection is renowned for its rich holding of 19th-century French paintings, including 22 works by Degas, there are also important Memlings and Cranachs from the Northern Renaissance, a marvellous' Virgin and Child' by Bellini, an early Rembrandt ' Self Portrait', and purchased in 1948 for £14,500, making it the most expensive single item in the entire collection, Frans Hals 's ' Portrait of a Gentleman '.
Lighting JOHN BLACK Sound BRIAN DEWAR
Producer KEITH ALEXANDER BBC Scotland