Sainsbury Wing

Sainsbury Wing. The Sainsbury Wing is an extension of the National Gallery, London, located in Trafalgar Square, and was designed by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown. The wing was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 and features a collection of over 1,000 paintings, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. The Sainsbury Wing is also home to the National Gallery, London's Western European paintings from 1250 to 1500, including works by Giotto, Piero della Francesca, and Sandro Botticelli.

● History

The Sainsbury Wing was built with funding from the Sainsbury family, who are also known for their support of the University of East Anglia and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. The wing was designed to provide additional space for the National Gallery, London's collection, which had outgrown its original building, designed by William Wilkins. The Sainsbury Wing was constructed on the site of the former National Gallery, London's Hogarth House, which was demolished to make way for the new building. The wing's design was influenced by the work of Andrea Palladio and Inigo Jones, and features a grand staircase inspired by the Escalier d'Honneur at the Château de Chantilly.

● Architecture

The Sainsbury Wing was designed by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, who are known for their work on the Allen Memorial Art Museum and the Seattle Art Museum. The building features a postmodern design, with a facade inspired by the Palazzo Rucellai in Florence. The wing's design was influenced by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier, and features a large atrium with a glass roof, designed by Norman Foster. The building's exterior is clad in Portland stone, and features a grand entrance inspired by the Pantheon, Rome.

● Collections

The Sainsbury Wing is home to the National Gallery, London's collection of Western European paintings from 1250 to 1500, including works by Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, and Hans Memling. The wing also features a collection of paintings by Piero della Francesca, including his famous work, The Baptism of Christ. The Sainsbury Wing's collection includes works by Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Perugino, as well as a collection of paintings by Albrecht Dürer and Hans Holbein the Younger. The wing is also home to the National Gallery, London's collection of paintings by Titian, including his famous work, Bacchus and Ariadne.

● Exhibitions

The Sainsbury Wing has hosted a number of exhibitions over the years, including a major retrospective of the work of Leonardo da Vinci in 2011, which featured loans from the Louvre, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Prado Museum. The wing has also hosted exhibitions of the work of Michelangelo, Raphael, and Caravaggio, as well as a major exhibition of the art of the Renaissance in 2012, which featured works by Giovanni Bellini, Giorgione, and Tintoretto. The Sainsbury Wing has also hosted exhibitions of the work of J.M.W. Turner, John Constable, and Claude Monet, as well as a major exhibition of the art of the Impressionists in 2013, which featured works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, and Mary Cassatt.

● Controversies

The Sainsbury Wing has been the subject of controversy over the years, with some critics arguing that its postmodern design is at odds with the National Gallery, London's classical building, designed by William Wilkins. The wing's design was also criticized by Prince Charles, who argued that it was a "carbuncle" on the face of Trafalgar Square. The Sainsbury Wing has also been the subject of controversy over its collection, with some critics arguing that it is too focused on the art of the Renaissance and does not adequately represent the art of other periods, such as the Baroque and the Rococo. The wing has also been criticized for its lack of representation of the work of female artists, such as Sofonisba Anguissola and Artemisia Gentileschi.

● Restoration

The Sainsbury Wing has undergone several restorations over the years, including a major restoration of its facade in 2010, which was carried out by English Heritage and the National Gallery, London. The wing's interior has also been restored, with the grand staircase being refurbished in 2012, and the atrium being renovated in 2015, with the help of The Getty Foundation and the World Monuments Fund. The Sainsbury Wing's collection has also been conserved, with many of the paintings undergoing restoration, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, with the help of The Courtauld Institute of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The wing's restoration has been supported by a number of organizations, including the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Art Fund, as well as The Royal Academy of Arts and the British Museum. Category:Art museums