This exhibition brings to Cardiff one of the UK's most important private collections of modern British art. The collection was created over a number of decades, with work often being purchased before the artists were famous. The collection features work by many of the very best British artists of the 20th century including Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Barbara Hepworth and David Hockney.

The collectors’ knowledge and passion for art has created an outstanding collection. Each artist is represented by work that could grace the walls of the world's greatest museums. Francis Bacon, now internationally recognised as one of the very best painters of the modern period, is represented with two outstanding paintings from the 1950s and 60s.

Close friends of Bacon in the so-called ‘School of London’ also feature, including a portrait by Freud and expressionist canvases by Frank Auerbach and Leon Kossoff. These figurative works are complimented by more abstract paintings by Ben Nicholson and sculptures by Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and Anthony Caro. Contemporary art is also strongly represented with paintings by Peter Doig and two important vases by Turner-prize winner Grayson Perry.

We are extremely grateful to the owners of this collection for their generosity in allowing these works to be displayed at National Museum Cardiff.

A full-colour, hardback catalogue is now available, From Private to Public, at a special exhibition price of £18.