 The refurbished suite will house little-known works of art |
A suite of rooms at the Royal Academy of Arts, hidden for more than two centuries, has been unveiled after a �6m restoration. The John Madejski Fine Rooms will open to the public next year, housing works by Hockney, Constable and Gainsborough.
It took four years to restore the 18th Century suite at Burlington House, in London's Piccadilly.
John Madejski, who funded 50% of the revamp, said he was delighted to help return it to its "former splendour".
He added: "The rooms are architecturally magnificent and it gives me enormous pleasure that the public will soon have the opportunity to enjoy these extraordinary treasures."
The Royal Academy will display little-known pieces from its art collection in the Neo-Palladian suite.
Its Burlington House refurbishment project began more than a decade ago.
The next stage is to catalogue the Royal Academy collection, built up since 1768, and to complete online access to all its works by 2007.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 