The British Museum in London, established in 1753, is the national museum of archaeology, antiquities and library of manuscripts and printed books. The institution was founded after an Act of Parliament in 1753 following the government's acquisition of the private collection of Sir Hans Sloane, the eminent physician and naturalist. The museum was originally based in Montagu House, Bloomsbury and the present building, designed by Sir Robert Smirke, was built between 1823-47. The famous circular reading room was constructed by Smirke's brother, Sydney. The wide ranging collection included material that later became part of the National History Museum. The Department of Prints and Drawings, which became an autonomous organisation in 1808, included 200 of Claude 's drawings and the museum now houses the Liber Veritatis. Ruskin worked in the museum in his early teens when he studied the mineralogy collection.