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When the National Gallery was established in 1824 it did not have a permanent home of its own and its paintings were displayed in a large private house. This arrangement was ridiculed by the press who made unkind comparisons with the enormous buildings of the Louvre in Paris. It took some time, but in 1831 the British Parliament agreed to build an appropriate building and the chosen location was Trafalgar Square, where the Royal Stables had been (which were moved to Buckingham Palace). This [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], they thought, was a convenient spot easily reached by the rich in their carriages from London’s West End and for the poor from the East End. A location that could be enjoyed by all classes of society.
London - National Gallery - History
London - National Gallery - Sainsbury Wing
During the Second World War the paintings were move to various parts of the country in order to protect them from the heavy bombing that London was experiencing. It was a very good job that this was done as the Gallery was bombed a few times. One of these raids demolished what is now Room 10. During the same raid seven people were killed and thirty-three injured when more bombs fell on Trafalgar Square.
London - National Gallery - Collection
London - National Gallery - War Damage
In 1985 members of the Sainsbury family - owners of one of the UK’s largest supermarket companies - agreed to finance the construction of a new wing for the National Gallery. It was built on a nearby site which had been vacant since the Second World War when a shop on the spot was destroyed.
In the National Gallery you will find one of the finest and most extensive collections of masterpieces in the world. All the great periods of European painting are represented. Only a choice selection of British work is on display as the National collection of these is housed in the Tate Gallery. The entire early Renaissance collection was moved to the new Sainsbury Wing.
Entrance to all London’s public galleries and museums is free, except for special exhibitions.
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In front of it stands a statue of George Washington [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], first president of the USA [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], whose grandmother came from Northamptonshire in England.
The new wing took six years to complete and it was opened by the Queen in July 1991.
The National Gallery has one of the best spaces in London in which to show what it has to offer. Because of its stunning position at Trafalgar Square, a favourite spot to sit to rest your feet and people-watch, it draws in many visitors who might not take the trouble to visit it if was in a different location. It is one of the most popular art galleries in London.