Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The Fitzwilliam Museum is the art and antiquities museum of the University of Cambridge and is located on Trumpington Street, Cambridge, England.The museum was founded in 1816 with the bequest of the library and art collection of Richard, VIIth Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion. The bequest also included £100,000 "to cause to be erected a good substantial museum repository". The "Founder's Building" itself was designed by George Basevi, completed by C. R. Cockerell and opened in 1848; the entrance hall is by Edward Middleton Barry and was completed in 1875.
The museum has five departments - Antiquities; Applied Arts; Coins and Medals; Manuscripts and Printed Books; and Paintings, Drawings and Prints.
The "Friends of the Fitzwilliam" was founded in 1909 and is the oldest society in Britain devoted to supporting a museum.