It was founded by Robert Darbishire with a donation from Sir Joseph Whitworth in 1889, as The Whitworth Institute and Park.The first building was completed in 1908.1 In 1958 the gallery became part of the University of Manchester2.
In October 1995 a Mezzanine Court in the centre of the building was opened. This new gallery, designed chiefly for the display of sculpture, won a RIBA regional award.3
One of its most famous works is the marble sculpture Genesis (1929-1931) by Sir Jacob Epstein.
2003 Theft
On Saturday 26 April 2003, three paintings -- Van Gogh's The Fortification of Paris with Houses, Picasso's Poverty and Gauguin's Tahitian Landscape -- were stolen from the gallery.45 They were later found rolled up in a by a nearby public toilet and were subsequently put back on display.6