In the late 1800s, the wealthy sugar refiner Henry Tate donated his art collection and an endowment to support a museum for British art. Since then the small collection at a single site has expanded to four museums across England.
While the Tate Modern museum focuses on contemporary art, the Tate Britain holds a nearly overwhelmingly impressive collection of paintings from the 1500s through the 1800s and a special display of art made in Britain through the years.
