Priya Kapoor
The National Gallery in London, founded in 1824, houses a collection of more than 2,300 paintings, including works by renowned artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Michelangelo, and Rembrandt. The gallery, located in Trafalgar Square, offers free entry to its main collection, making it a popular destination for art enthusiasts and tourists alike. With paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900, the National Gallery provides a comprehensive overview of art history, featuring Italian Renaissance masters, Flemish School artists, and Impressionists. Visitors can explore dedicated rooms organised by artistic periods, making it easy to navigate and appreciate the diverse range of artworks on display.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Paintings | More than 2,300 |
| Year of Opening | 1824 |
| Location | Trafalgar Square, City of Westminster, Central London, England |
| Collection | One of the most important in the world, including works by Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh, Raffaello, Piero Della Francesca, Botticelli, Tiziano, Michelangelo, Rubens, Van Dyck, Vermeer, Caravaggio, Velazquez, Turner, Constable, Monet, Seurat, Degas, Czannes, Raphael, Titian, Canaletto, Paul Delaroche, Salvator Rosa, Jan van Eyck, Vincent van Gogh, and more. |
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What You'll Learn
The National Gallery's history and notable acquisitions
The National Gallery in London is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, Central London, England. It was founded in 1824 and houses a collection of more than 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.
The National Gallery came into being when the British government bought 38 paintings from the heirs of John Julius Angerstein in 1824. Angerstein was a Russian-born émigré banker based in London, and his collection included works by Raphael and Hogarth's Marriage A-la-Mode series. After that initial purchase, the gallery was shaped mainly by its early directors and private donations, which now account for two-thirds of the collection.
One of the founding members of the British Institution, Sir George Beaumont, offered a gift of 16 paintings in 1823. The National Gallery opened in 1824 in Angerstein's former townhouse at No. 100 Pall Mall, and in 1826, Beaumont's collection was added, followed by the Reverend William Holwell Carr's bequest of 35 paintings in 1831. Initially, the Keeper of Paintings, William Seguier, was responsible for managing the gallery, but in July 1824, some of this responsibility shifted to the newly formed board of trustees.
The National Gallery at Pall Mall was frequently overcrowded and relatively small compared to the Louvre in Paris. However, its location in the heart of London was seen as necessary for the gallery to fulfil its social purpose of making art accessible to people of all social classes. In 1832, construction began on a new building by William Wilkins on the site of the old Royal Mews in Charing Cross, reinforcing the gallery's commitment to accessibility.
Over the years, the National Gallery's collection continued to grow through acquisitions and donations. Notable acquisitions include two paintings from Blenheim Palace in 1885, Raphael's Ansidei Madonna and van Dyck's Equestrian Portrait of Charles I, purchased with a record-setting grant from the Treasury. In 1906, the National Art-Collections Fund, established to prevent the flow of artworks to the United States, acquired Velázquez's Rokeby Venus for the gallery. In 1909, the industrialist Ludwig Mond donated 42 Italian Renaissance paintings, including the Mond Crucifixion by Raphael.
The National Gallery's collection showcases various artistic periods and schools, including Renaissance, Impressionist, and Flemish masters. Notable paintings include Leonardo da Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks, Titian's Bacchus and Ariadne, Turner's The Fighting Temeraire, and many more. The gallery also houses important portraits, such as Paolo Veronese's Portrait of a Gentleman of the Soranzo Family, acquired through the Acceptance in Lieu scheme, which allows individuals to settle inheritance tax by transferring cultural or historical objects to the nation.
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The Gallery's most famous paintings
The National Gallery in London is home to more than 2,300 paintings, dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The gallery was founded in 1824 and is located on the north side of Trafalgar Square in Westminster, Central London. It is one of the most famous art museums in the country, attracting millions of visitors annually.
The Arnolfini Portrait, Jan van Eyck
This painting from 1434 is one of the most popular paintings in the National Gallery. It depicts Giovanni di Nicolao di Arnolfini, an Italian merchant, and his wife in a private room. The room is meticulously detailed, and the figures are dressed richly. This painting was the subject of a trend during the 2020 lockdown, where people recreated the painting with bathroom towels, stuffed toys, and duvets.
Sunflowers, Vincent van Gogh
Van Gogh's Sunflowers is one of seven versions of the painting, with the others displayed in museums and galleries worldwide. The painting depicts fifteen sunflowers in various stages of their lifecycle, from young buds to dead flowers. Van Gogh's vibrant use of yellow paint creates a sense of intense heat and depicts the sunflower's association with sacred and profane love.
Virgin of the Rocks, Leonardo da Vinci
Virgin of the Rocks is a famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci, located in Room 66 of the National Gallery. The painting was created at the height of the High Renaissance and depicts the legend of the meeting between the Holy Family and John the Baptist. It shows a mystical landscape with strange rock formations and figures grouped in a pyramid.
Bacchus and Ariadne, Titian
Bacchus and Ariadne is one of the most famous pieces in the National Gallery and has strongly influenced European art. The painting illustrates a story told by the classical authors Ovid and Catullus. It depicts the moment Bacchus falls in love with Ariadne, the Cretan princess, as he returns from India on his cheetah-drawn chariot.
The Supper at Emmaus, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
This painting by Caravaggio is one of the top 20 most-viewed paintings in the National Gallery. It depicts the story from the Gospel of Luke, where two of Jesus' disciples meet the resurrected Christ on the road to Emmaus but fail to recognise him.
The National Gallery is home to many other famous paintings, including works by renowned artists such as Botticelli, Vermeer, Monet, Turner, and Velázquez.
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The Gallery's most important collections
The National Gallery in London, founded in 1824, houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings from the mid-13th century to 1900. The gallery's collection is divided into four groups based on the period of the paintings. Here is an overview of the Gallery's most important collections:
Blue Area (Sainsbury Wing)
This area showcases works by renowned artists such as Raffaello, Piero Della Francesca, Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci. Visitors can admire the famous "Virgin of the Rocks" by Leonardo da Vinci, which depicts a tender moment between a young mother and her child.
Purple Area
The purple section features the masterpieces of Tiziano and Michelangelo. One of the highlights is Titian's "Bacchus and Ariadne," which illustrates a classical story from Ovid and Catullus. It depicts the Cretan princess Ariadne, abandoned by Theseus on the Greek island of Naxos.
Yellow Area
The yellow area is dedicated to the Flemish School, including artists such as Rubens, Van Dyck, Vermeer, and Rembrandt. This section also showcases works by Italian and Spanish masters like Caravaggio and Velazquez.
Green Area
The green area exhibits the works of English artists Turner and Constable. Turner's "The Fighting Temeraire" depicts the final journey of a veteran warship, while Constable's "Flatford Mill" captures the tranquil scene of a watermill on the River Stour.
Impressionist Room
In this room, visitors can explore the fabulous works of Monet, Van Gogh, Seurat, Degas, and Cezanne. Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" is one of five versions displayed in museums worldwide, originally painted to decorate his house in Arles.
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The Gallery's layout and room-based groupings
The National Gallery in London houses one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world, with over 2,300 works belonging to the British public, dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The paintings are displayed across various rooms, each with its own unique theme and character.
The Gallery is laid out across multiple levels, with the Sainsbury Wing on the second level being a prominent feature. This wing is dedicated to housing the works of renowned artists such as Raffaello, Piero Della Francesca, Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci. The rooms in this area are identified by numbers, with Room 66 being a highlight as it showcases Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, the "Virgin of the Rocks".
The Gallery's layout also includes colour-coded areas, each showcasing a distinct artistic style or theme. The blue area, for instance, is where visitors can admire the works of the Italian masters, including Raffaello, Piero Della Francesca, Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci. Moving on, the green area showcases English artists like Turner and Constable, along with breathtaking Venetian vistas by Guardi and Canaletto.
The Impressionist Room is a highlight of the Gallery, boasting masterpieces by Monet, Van Gogh, Seurat, Degas, and Czannes. Here, visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant and revolutionary world of Impressionist art. Room 44, in particular, showcases Monet's "Bathers at La Grenouillère", a stunning example of his work.
The Gallery's layout also accommodates dedicated spaces for specific artists. For instance, Room 58 is a haven for admirers of Botticelli, where his ethereal depictions of gods and goddesses adorn the walls. Similarly, Room 18 showcases the powerful and muscular figures of Rubens, offering a distinct contrast to the delicate beauty of Botticelli's work.
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The Gallery's free entry and accessibility
The National Gallery in London is home to over 2,300 works, including many famous paintings. The Gallery has free entry and is located in Trafalgar Square, which is easily accessible by public transport. The nearest tube stations are Charing Cross, Leicester Square, and Embankment, all of which are within a short walking distance.
The Gallery is committed to providing access to its collection for all visitors and has a range of services and facilities to ensure that everyone can enjoy the paintings. For visitors with mobility impairments, the Gallery offers level access at the main entrance and a range of mobility aids, including wheelchairs and mobility scooters, which can be borrowed free of charge. There are also accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities located on each level of the Gallery.
For visitors with visual impairments, the Gallery provides audio descriptions of selected paintings, as well as tactile diagrams and Braille labels. Large-print guides and transcripts of audio content are also available upon request. In addition, the Gallery welcomes guide dogs and offers a touch tour program, allowing visitors to explore a selection of paintings through touch and verbal description.
The National Gallery also offers a range of services for visitors with hearing impairments, including British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted talks and tours. Induction loops are available in the lecture theatre and at the information desk, and portable loops can be borrowed for use in other areas of the Gallery. Subtitles or transcripts are provided for all films and multimedia content, and the Gallery's website and digital platforms are designed to be accessible and compatible with assistive technologies.
In addition to these services, the Gallery provides a quiet room for visitors who may need a calm space during their visit. The Gallery also offers a range of social stories and visual guides to help visitors familiarise themselves with the space and plan their visit. These resources are available on the Gallery's website and can be downloaded in advance.
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Frequently asked questions
The National Gallery in London houses a collection of more than 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900.
Entry to the main collection is free of charge.
Some of the most famous paintings in the National Gallery include Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh, Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci, and Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian.
