In essence the art works fall into four distinct yet complementary sub-collections - the Modern British Collection, the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Watercolour Collection, the Latin American Topographical Collection and the Historical Collection.

The collection′s origins lie in the somewhat stately 18th and 19th century portraits of personalities associated with the firm of Baring Brothers (established in 1762), the business of which ING acquired in 1995. Having quickly established itself as a leading merchant and banking house, amassing great wealth and prestige, partners and their families were able to commission portraits from the very best artists. As a result, today at 60 London Wall there are works by Sir Thomas Lawrence, Benjamin West, John Linnell, George Richmond, William Orpen and Ambrose McEvoy.

It was not until the 1970s, with the catalyst of a move to large new headquarters in 1981, that the firm began to collect art purposefully. The policy was then clearly defined to create two distinct collections - one of 18th and 19th century English watercolours and another of figurative works by early modern British artists.

Around 50 watercolours by artists such as Paul Sandby and Francis Towne, David Cox and Thomas Shotter Boys were acquired, but in the early 1980s, due to their delicate nature and the limited areas in which they could be hung, it was decided not to add further to this collection. From then on, the focus of acquisition was modern pictures. A collection has been amassed of around 150 works, by artists such as Philip Wilson Steer, Harold Gilman, John Nash and Paul Nash, John Minton, Michael Ayrton, LS Lowry and Stanley Spencer.

New purchases are funded from sales of works that the firm no longer wishes to retain (perhaps because they are unsuitable for a modern building or because they do not fit into the overall collecting policy).

In particular, there is enthusiasm to build a new dimension to the collection by the acquisition of contemporary works, a notable feature of which is that art should be easily accessible to clients and staff alike. This is done within the context of the worldwide ING Group, which has a renowned policy for acquiring and displaying modern art of distinction. Works from the DE Exhibition which are awarded the ING Purchase Prize of course go on to form part of the prestigious ING art collection.

 

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