Proposed Gallery of Art and Literature on the site of the Old Infirmary at Piccadilly

Herbert P Templar

Summary

A sketchy vision of a vast gallery of art and literature on the site of the old infirmary at Piccadilly, Manchester. Two curved wings of the building, studded with long windows set between giant pilasters, reach round like arms from a huge central section. This has a Greek-style portico, a enormoust raised dome and smaller domed towers, like minarets, on either side. These towers are portrayed as reaching up to the clouds. Tiny figures in Edwardian dress take their leisure in the foreground, around a massive statue. When the infirmary was demolished, in 1909-10, this idea for a new art gallery was not realised.