Tate Britain
National Collection of British Art
Tate Britain which is part of the Tate network of Art galleries is in Westminster at Millbank on the river Thames. It is one of the largest museums in the country and houses the National collection of British art from 1500 up to the present day; it is also the most comprehensive collection of its kind.
Originally known from 1897 to 1932 as the National Gallery of British Art and from 1932 to 2000 as the Tate, it is the oldest in the network opening in 1897. The museum houses some great works of art including a large amount of works by J M W Turner who bequeathed all the works in his own collection to the museum. The Clore Gallery houses this work; the Tate is named after its founder Sir Henry Tate.
Originally it displayed both British and modern collections but the modern art was moved to the newly opened Tate modern while the Millbank gallery became dedicated to the display of historical and contemporary British art. As a consequence, it was renamed Tate Britain in March 2000 .The front part of the building was designed by Sidney R. J. Smith with a classical portico and dome behind.