National Gallery

National Gallery
Name	National Gallery
Established	1824
Location	Trafalgar Square, London, England
Type	Art museum
Collection size	Over 2,300 paintings

National Gallery. The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The Gallery is an exempt charity, and a non-departmental public body of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Its collection belongs to the government on behalf of the British public, and entry to the main collection is free of charge.

History

The institution was founded after the British government purchased 38 paintings from the heirs of John Julius Angerstein, a wealthy merchant and insurer, in 1824. These works, which included pieces by Rembrandt and Thomas Gainsborough, were initially displayed at Angerstein's former home at 100 Pall Mall. The collection grew rapidly through purchases and bequests, such as the important collection of Sir George Beaumont. The need for a dedicated building became pressing, leading to the construction of the current building on the site of the former King's Mews in Trafalgar Square, which opened in 1838. Key figures in its early development included its first keeper, William Seguier, and the influential director Sir Charles Lock Eastlake, who greatly expanded the collection of early Italian and Northern Renaissance art. The 20th century saw significant expansion with the opening of the Sainsbury Wing in 1991.

Collection

The collection is arranged chronologically and spans major periods of Western European art. It includes seminal works from the Italian Renaissance, such as The Wilton Diptych and The Baptism of Christ by Piero della Francesca. The holdings of Leonardo da Vinci include the The Virgin of the Rocks and a cartoon for The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist. Notable Dutch Golden Age works include A Young Woman standing at a Virginal by Johannes Vermeer and Self-Portrait at the Age of 34 by Rembrandt. The Spanish school is represented by masters like Diego Velázquez's The Rokeby Venus and Francisco de Goya. The collection of British art features iconic works by J.M.W. Turner, John Constable, and Thomas Gainsborough, including The Fighting Temeraire and The Hay Wain. The Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections include Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh and Bathers at Asnières by Georges Seurat.

Building and architecture

The main building on the north side of Trafalgar Square was designed by William Wilkins and opened in 1838. Its architecture is in the Neoclassical style, with a prominent portico and a large central dome. The building has been expanded several times. The most significant modern addition is the Sainsbury Wing, designed by the architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, which opened in 1991 to house the collection of early Renaissance paintings. Other expansions included the Barry Rooms in the 19th century. The building underwent a major renovation known as the "NG200" project in the early 21st century.

Governance and funding

It is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The governing body is the Board of Trustees, appointed by the Prime Minister. Day-to-day management is led by the Director, a position historically held by figures such as Sir Charles Lock Eastlake and Sir Kenneth Clark. As a registered charity, its funding comes from a combination of government grant-in-aid, private donations, corporate sponsorship, and commercial activities. Major philanthropic support has come from individuals like Sir John Paul Getty Jr. and foundations such as the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Notable exhibitions and programs

The institution has a long history of organizing landmark exhibitions that have drawn international acclaim. Major shows have included "Manet and the Post-Impressionists" (1910), "Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan" (2011), and "Michelangelo & Sebastiano" (2017). Its public programming includes educational lectures, art history courses, and family workshops. It also runs a successful "Art Fund" partnership for touring exhibitions and has a significant digital presence, offering virtual tours and online resources.

In popular culture

The building and its collection have been featured in numerous films and television series, serving as a backdrop for dramatic scenes. It appears in the James Bond film Skyfall and was a key location in the thriller The International. The Gallery's art has been referenced in literature, including in the works of E.M. Forster and John Berger. It is also a frequent subject in documentaries, such as the BBC series The Private Life of a Masterpiece, and has been depicted in various forms of media, cementing its status as a British cultural icon.

Category:Art museums and galleries in London Category:National museums of the United Kingdom Category:Neoclassical architecture in London