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Apsley House is located on the southeast corner of Hyde Park and
was completed by Robert Adam for Baron Apsley in 1778. Fifty years
later it was enlarged to provide a suitably grand home for the Duke of
Wellington, whose dual career brought him victory against Napoleon at
Waterloo in 1815.
Against a background of silk hangings and gilt decorations hangs the
duke's fine art collection. Such masterworks as paintings by Goya,
Velasquez, Brueghel, Rubens, and Correggio stand alongside displays of
porcelain, silver and furniture. Some of the duke's
memorabilia include swords, medals, shields, a Napoleon death mask, but is
dominated by Canova's colossal statue of Napoleon, who was Wellington's
archenemy.
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