Montagu House, Historic mansion in Bloomsbury, England
Montagu House was a mansion in Bloomsbury, London, featuring a seventeen-bay facade, two main floors, and a prominent mansard roof topped with a central dome. The building's design reflected the grand aspirations of its original owners.
Ralph Montagu commissioned the house between 1675 and 1680 based on designs by Robert Hooke. Following a fire in 1686, the building underwent complete reconstruction under French architect Pouget's direction.
The interior walls featured elaborate murals by Italian artist Antonio Verrio and decorative paintings by French artist Jacques Rousseau. These artworks made the house a showcase of fine craftsmanship and refined taste during its time.
The mansion served as the first home of the British Museum starting in 1759 and remained a significant London landmark for several decades. Visitors interested in museum history will find its role in the collection's early organization particularly noteworthy.
The building was demolished in the 1840s to make room for the British Museum's larger replacement structure. This demolition marked the end of an era when private aristocratic houses served as public repositories for growing collections.
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