The National Gallery
History, tourist information, and nearby accommodation
In 1824 the British government purchased a collection of 38 paintings from the estate of a wealthy insurance broker named John Julius Angerstein, paying £57,000 for the collection. From this small start, one of the world's great collections of fine art was born.
Just 2 years later the painter Sir George Beaumont offered his collection of art to the nation on the condition that a suitable venue be found for their display. The Beaumont and Angerstein collections were put on display together in Angerstein's former townhouse at 100 Pall Mall.
The quarters were much to cramped to adequately display the artwork, but in 1838 a new building in neo-classical style was built on the north side of Trafalgar Square, on the site of the King's Mews. The design was by William Wilkins, who incorporated bits of the older Mews in his new building. It is possible that the columns on the east and west porticos came from nearby Carlton House, which was pulled down in 1828. The Royal Academy of the Arts shared the Trafalgar Square space until 1869, when it moved to a new building in Piccadilly.
The location in Trafalgar Square was an interesting choice; it was considered easy to access on foot by lower classes from London's East End, and by the wealthier classes arriving by carriage from the west. The Gallery's mission was to make art free and accessible to all, and not become a venue purely for the privileged classes.
There are approximately 2300 works of art on display at the National Gallery, plus regular touring exhibits of art from other major galleries around the world. The collections are organised by time period, into 4 large groupings; the 13th-15th century collections are on the second floor, while galleries of 16th century, 17th century, and 18th to early 20th century art are on the first floor. There are extremely good maps of the galleries available, so you can opt to go straight to the time period you are interested in, or simply browse at your leisure.
With so many wonderful paintings on display it is hard to choose what to see. Here are a few of the most famous items in the collection, and a few that caught our eye on our last visit.
As for British artists, there are plenty to choose from; the one that really caught by eye was JMW Turner's The Fighting Temeraire, painted in 1839. The Temeraire played a vital role in Nelson's victory at Trafalgar, and the painting poignantly shows the moment the ship being towed the Rotherhithe to be scuttled in 1838. And on the subject of British art, look for William Hogarth's entire series of 6 paintings illustrating Marriage a la Mode, a biting piece of social satire.
Perhaps the most famous single painting in the National Gallery collection is Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers, painted in 1888 as part of a series of 4 intended to decorate the room of fellow artist Paul Gaugin at Arles. But if van Gogh's masterpiece is the sort of Impressionist art you enjoy, you're in for a treat, as the Gallery has a superb collection of works by van Gogh and other Impressionist artists, including Seurat, Gaugin, Cezanne, and Claude Monet. Look for Monet's Water Lilies, and studies of the Japanese Bridge in his gardens.
There are regular special exhibits, lectures, and learning opportunities for delving deeper into particular artists and time periods.
Access to the Gallery is free, though there may be a charge for special exhibits. The Gallery is easy to reach, at the north side of Trafalgar Square, just a few minutes walk from Charing Cross station. After you've explored the Gallery to your heart;'s content, don't forget the National Portrait Gallery, just around the corner.
About National Gallery
Address: Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London, England, WC2N 5DN
Attraction Type: Museum
Website: National Gallery
Phone: 020 7747 2885
Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express
Nearest station: Charing Cross - 0.1 miles (straight line) - Zone: 1
NEARBY HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS
Heritage Rated from 1- 5 (low to exceptional) on historic interest
St Martin-in-the-Fields - 0 miles (Historic Church)
Benjamin Franklin House - 0.2 miles (Museum)
Duke of York Column - 0.3 miles (Landmark)
Household Cavalry Museum - 0.3 miles (Museum)
Cleopatra's Needle - 0.3 miles (Landmark)
Seven Dials Monument - 0.3 miles (Landmark)
Eros Statue, Piccadilly Circus - 0.3 miles (Landmark)
Covent Garden Market - 0.3 miles (Historic Building)
Nearest Accommodation to National Gallery: