The National Gallery Reaches 200

The National Gallery in London is 200 years old this year. I may have mentioned before that I studied the history of art at university, and I’ve made many a trip down south to visit the National Gallery. However, I didn’t realise it was established in the Georgian era; I thought it was much younger.

While I covered a broad history of art, my final year focused on the Victorian artists known as the Pre-Raphaelites, and a lot of their work is now displayed the Tate Britain. The National Gallery, however, still houses over 2,300 paintings spanning the major traditions of Western European painting. It is worth a visit if you have an interest in art.

200 years of the National Gallery

• In January 1823, London businessman and fine art collector, John Julius Angerstein died. When William IV heard Angerstein’s collection was to be sold off, he and the Prime Minister, Lord Liverpool, argued for the government to buy the collection on behalf of the nation in April 1824.
• The collection of 38 paintings was first displayed at Angerstein’s former house, 100 Pall Mall on 10^th May 1824.
• The original collection comprised Italian works, including a large altarpiece by Sebastiano del Piombo, The Raising of Lazarus, and examples of the Dutch, Flemish and English Schools.
• Over the years, both artists and collectors donated their works to the gallery and the house on Pall Mall could not display them all.
• In 1831, the government constructed a building to house the collection in Trafalgar Square, chosen for its central location.
• The building we now know as the National Gallery was completed in 1838. The columns from Carlton House (the former home of George IV when he was the Prince Regent) were saved when the building was demolished in 1820 and re-used in the east and west porticoes of the National Gallery.

Committed to Education

The gallery has always been committed to education and has allowed free admission to the collection for all so “that its collection can be enjoyed by the widest public possible, and not become the exclusive preserve of the privileged.” (The National Gallery)

It’s difficult to pick a favourite because the collection is vast. One that always sticks in my mind is the Bathers at Asnières by Georges Seurat (1884). It marks his move into pointillism and the painting comprises tiny dots. It’s very impressive both close and at a distance.

So, happy 200th birthday to the National Gallery! I hope to visit you again soon.