National Gallery

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National Gallery, London. The British national collection of European paintings from c.1300 to c.1900 (it also includes a few earlier pictures and has recently started to acquire works from the early 20th century). It was founded in 1824 when the government purchased 38 paintings from the collection of John Julius Angerstein (1735–1823), a Russian-born merchant. They were mainly Italian works of the 16th and 17th centuries, but there were also examples by British, Dutch, Flemish, and French masters. Initially they were displayed in Angerstein's former house at 100 Pall Mall, but further acquisitions (including the bequest of Sir George Beaumont) soon necessitated larger premises, and the present building in Trafalgar Square, designed by William Wilkins, was opened in 1838 (architecturally it is undistinguished: Sir John Summerson has memorably described the rather feeble central dome and side turrets as being ‘like the clock and vases on a mantelpiece, only less useful’). In its early days the Gallery was run in rather haphazard fashion, but Charles Eastlake, director 1855–65, brought professionalism, flair, and drive to its administration (other notable directors have included Edward Poynter and Kenneth Clark). The Gallery shared the premises with the Royal Academy until 1869, by which time it had grown into one of the great collections of the world. Since then there have been various enlargements of the building and in 1991 a major extension was opened—the Sainsbury Wing, the gift of Sir John, Simon, and Timothy Sainsbury. This wing now houses the Gallery's early paintings, up to about 1510.

The collection as a whole now has about 2,200 pictures. This is a fairly small number compared with the holdings of some of the great Continental galleries based on former royal collections, but the National Gallery's paintings surpass those of any other collection in giving a balanced view of the mainstream of European painting from Giotto to Cézanne. Best represented of all are the early Italian and Dutch Schools. The representation of the British School is selective because of the existence of Tate Britain as a separate national gallery of British art.

Other well-known national galleries, with their dates of foundation, are: the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh (1850); the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin (1854); the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne (1859); the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa (1880); the National Museum and Gallery in Cardiff (1907; originally called the National Museum of Wales); the National Gallery of Art in Washington (1937; see Kress and Mellon); and the Australian National Gallery in Canberra (1976).

National Gallery, London. The British national collection of European paintings from c.1300 to c.1900 (it also includes a few earlier pictures and has recently started to acquire works from the early 20th century). It was founded in 1824 when the government purchased 38 paintings from the collection of John Julius Angerstein, a Russian-born merchant who had died the previous year. Initially they were displayed in his former house at 100 Pall Mall, but further acquisitions (including the bequest of Sir George Beaumont) soon necessitated larger premises, and the present building in Trafalgar Square, designed by William Wilkins, was opened in 1838. In its early days the gallery was run in rather haphazard fashion, but Charles Eastlake, director 1855–65, brought professionalism, flair, and drive to its administration (other notable directors have included Edward Poynter and Kenneth Clark). The gallery shared the premises with the Royal Academy until 1869, by which time it had grown into one of the great collections of the world. Since then there have been various enlargements of the building and in 1991 a major extension was opened—the Sainsbury Wing, the gift of Sir John, Simon, and Timothy Sainsbury. This wing now houses the gallery's early paintings, up to about 1510. The collection as a whole now has about 2,200 pictures. This is a fairly small number compared with some of the great Continental galleries based on former royal collections, but the National Gallery's paintings surpass those of any other gallery in giving a balanced view of the mainstream of European painting from Giotto to Cézanne. Best represented of all are the early Italian and Dutch Schools. The representation of the British School is selective because of the existence of Tate Britain as a separate national gallery of British art. Other well-known national galleries, with their dates of foundation, are: the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh (1859); the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne (1859); the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin (1864); the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa (1880); the National Gallery of Art in Washington (1937; see Mellon); and the Australian National Gallery in Canberra (1976).

National Gallery London, one of the permanent national art collections of Great Britain, est. 1824. The nucleus of museum was the 38-picture collection of the late English banker John Julius Angerstein, which was purchased by the House of Commons; it was initially displayed at Angerstein's former Pall Mall home. The National Gallery's main building, erected (1832-38) and designed in Greek style by William Wilkins, stands in Trafalgar Square. The structure was shared for 30 years with the Royal Academy of Arts . In 1876 a new wing was added, designed by E. M. Barry. The gallery is rich in Italian paintings of the 15th and 16th cent. and has fine collections of French, Flemish, and Dutch masters. The National Portrait Gallery, whose collection dates from 1858, has adjoined the National Gallery since 1896. The Sainsbury Wing, designed by American architect Robert Venturi to display the National Gallery's early Renaissance collection, opened in 1991. The Tate Gallery , which originally controlled by the National Gallery, attained complete independence in 1955 by an act of Parliament.