The National Gallery is a wonderful place with an interesting
history. It started with 38 major paintings, a small start
for a national collection. Many wealthy benefactors contributed
money and works of art, which has resulted in a huge,
impressive collection today. Other paintings were purchased
by public subscription or by government grant.
The gallery was designed by William Wilkins, built between
1833-1887 in Greek Revival style and opened in 1838. It was
later enlarged (in 1991) by the addition of the Sainsbury
Wing, financed by members of the Sainsbury family (founders
of the supermarket chain) and designed by Robert Venturi.
The idea of establishing a national gallery grew out of concern
for protecting Britain's artistic heritage, threatened by
the sale of Sir Robert Walpole's collection to Catherine of
Russia. The national collection grew from paintings presented
to the nation in 1823 by collector and connoisseur Sir George
Beaumont, and a government purchase in 1824 of 38 works from
the collection of merchant John Julius Angerstein, in whose
house in Pall Mall they were initially displayed.
The National Gallery now has over 2000 works representing
the principal schools of European painting from the 13th century
to 20th century. Its collection of Italian Renaisssance paintings,
displayed in the Sainsbury Wing, represents almost all the
great Florentine and Venetian painters of that period and
is the most comprehensive outside Italy. Dutch and Flemish
painters are also strongly represented, as are French and
Spanish painters of the 15th century to 19th century.
The paintings hang chronologically, which is a nice way to
organize such a vast collection.
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