the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square
Tel; 44-20-7747-2885
This gallery serves me very well. It is a place of beauty and serenity, and as I tend to end up at Trafalgar Square, the central transport hub, (I like to ride the buses), it is also a refuge on any rainy day.
free admission, with a request for donations.
Rated as the Number 20 attraction in London, (significant when you realize there are hundreds of fascinating places in this great great metropolis).
Standing on the high ground, above the North Terrace, the National Gallery contains some of the finest works of art in the universe.
This building was intended to be the principal feature of the landscape around Trafalgar Square. The structure proved to be less spectacular than expected, while the collection grew in quantity and quality.
The building
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/history/about-the-building/
There are four entrances, c
1 - the Main entrance. Look for the tile work on the top landing of the portico; check this website for details; http://www.thejoyofshards.co.uk/london/natgallery.shtml
2 - The Getty entrance is fairly new, and is wheelchair friendly. It is a useful short-cut to the gallery shop and cafe.
3 - The Sainsbury Wing, on the west side of the main building has its own entrance.
4 - The back door, off St Martin's Street which runs south from Leicester Square, and bisects Orange Street, (runs east-west from Charing Cross Road to Haymarket).
Considered as the National Collection, the National Gallery’s collection is true to the global spectrum of established and world renown paintings, focused primarily on the evolution of Western European art. The approximately 2,300 paintings belong to the British public. It originated when the British Government purchased 36 paintings from a banker, John Julius Angerstein. The collection of exquisite paintings was shown at his home until the National Gallery was completed in 1838.
The collection is arranged chronologically through the four wings.
the Sainsbury Wing, The Renaissance, (1260-1500),
West Wing, 16th Century (1500-1600),
North Wing, 17th Century, (1600-1700) and
East Wing, 18th & 19th Centuries, (1700-1900).
The Collection of the National Gallery
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/history/collection-history/collection-history
The website also has an interesting page… http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/10-reasons-to-visit/
The Gallery houses works by Botticelli, Cezanne, Canaletto, Caravaggio, Constable, Leonardo da Vinci, de Hooch, della Francesca, El Greco, Gainsborough, Hans Holbein the Younger, Hogarth, Michelangelo, Monet, Picasso, Raphael, Rembrandt, Renoir, Rubens, Seurat, Titian, Turner, Uccello, van Gogh, van Dyck, Velazquez and Vermeer, to name a few.
And then the unknowns, such as the religious painting known as Wilton Diptych, by a 14th century artist.
The collection is arranged chronologically through the four wings.
the Sainsbury Wing offers items of the Renaissance, (1260-1500),
West Wing has 16th Century paintings, (mostly), (1500-1600),
North Wing, 17th Century, (1600-1700),
East Wing, 18th & 19th Centuries, (1700-1900).
Website for the Collection of the National Gallery... http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/history/collection-history/collection-history
The quality of a painting is in the eye of the beholder, so I'll spare you any opinion. Here are some of the items often recommended.
Jan van Eyck- The Arnolfini Portrait" (1434), http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-the-arnolfini-portrait
Paulo Uccello (1397-1475), The Battle of San Romano. 1438-40, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/paolo-uccello-the-battle-of-san-romano
Piero della Francesca, 'The Baptism of Christ', c. 1450s, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/piero-della-francesca-the-baptism-of-christ
There is a large collection of 15th Century works by Sandro Botticelli, particularly, Venus and Mars, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/sandro-botticelli-venus-and-mars, 1485, and ‘Mystic Nativity’ http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/sandro-botticelli-mystic-nativity
Carlo Crivelli – the Annunciation, with St Emidius, 1486, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/carlo-crivelli-the-annunciation-with-saint-emidius
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Cartoon, c. 1500, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/leonardo-da-vinci-the-leonardo-cartoon, and http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/leonardo-da-vinci-the-virgin-of-the-rocks
Giovanni Bellini (circa 1430-1516), The Doge Leonardo Loredan. c. 1500, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/giovanni-bellini-doge-leonardo-loredan
Raphael, Madonna of the Pinks, circa 1506, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/raphael-the-madonna-of-the-pinks-la-madonna-dei-garofani
Gerard David, Virgin and Child with saints and a donor, c. 1510, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/gerard-david-the-virgin-and-child-with-saints-and-donor
Sebastiano del Piombo's The Raising of Lazarus, 1517 - 19, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/sebastiano-del-piombo-the-raising-of-lazarus
Titian
- Bacchus and Ariadne, 1520-3, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/titian-bacchus-and-ariadne
- Diana and Actaeon, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/titian-diana-and-actaeon
- Death of Actaeon, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/titian-the-death-of-actaeon
Hans Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors, 1533, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/hans-holbein-the-younger-the-ambassadors
da Caravaggio, Michelangelo Merisi - The Supper at Emmaus, 1601, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/michelangelo-merisi-da-caravaggio-the-supper-at-emmaus
Peter Paul Rubens' - Samson and Delilah, about 1610, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/peter-paul-rubens-samson-and-delilah, and... The Judgement of Paris, 1632-5, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/peter-paul-rubens-the-judgement-of-paris/350015
Velazquez's "The Immaculate Conception", 1618-19, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/diego-velazquez-the-immaculate-conception
There is a nice collection of work by Nicolas Poussin, highlighted by “A Bacchananlian Revel before a Term”, 1632-3, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/nicolas-poussin-a-bacchanalian-revel-before-a-term
Anthony van Dyck, Equestrian Portrait of Charles I, 1637-8, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/anthony-van-dyck-equestrian-portrait-of-charles-i
Claude Gellée offers a couple of beauties…
Seaport with the Embarkation of Saint Ursula, 1641, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/claude-seaport-with-the-embarkation-of-saint-ursula
and... Seaport with the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba, 1648, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/claude-seaport-with-the-embarkation-of-the-queen-of-sheba
There is a nice collection by Rembrandt, particularly, Self Portrait, at age 63, (1669), http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/rembrandt-self-portrait-at-the-age-of-63, and Belshazzar’s Feast, 1636-8, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/rembrandt-belshazzars-feast
Diego Velazquez, The Toilet of Venus, now known as "The Rokeby Venus" (1647-51) – loaned to the gallery from the collection at Rokeby Hall, Teesdale, County Durham, Yorkshire since 1906. http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/diego-velazquez-the-toilet-of-venus-the-rokeby-venus
Pieter de Hooch's "The Courtyard of a House in Delft", 1658, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/pieter-de-hooch-the-courtyard-of-a-house-in-delft
Johannes Vermeer, A Young Woman Standing at a Virginal, (c. 1671), http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/johannes-vermeer-a-young-woman-standing-at-a-virginal, and A Young Woman Seated at a Virginal, (c. 1671), http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/johannes-vermeer-a-young-woman-seated-at-a-virginal
William Hogarth, Marriage a-la-Mode, (1743), Marriage a-la-Mode is a group, or series, and all can be found here. http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/william-hogarth-marriage-a-la-mode-1-the-marriage-settlement
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/william-hogarth-marriage-a-la-mode-2-the-tete-a-tete
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/william-hogarth-marriage-a-la-mode-3-the-inspection
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/william-hogarth-marriage-a-la-mode-4-the-toilette
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/william-hogarth-marriage-a-la-mode-5-the-bagnio
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/william-hogarth-marriage-a-la-mode-6-the-ladys-death
There is a nice collection by Canaletto - The Stonemason's Yard, 1725, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/canaletto-the-stonemasons-yard, and 'A Regatta on the Grand Canal', c. 1740, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/canaletto-a-regatta-on-the-grand-canal
Gainsborough, Thomas - Mr & Mrs Andrews, 1750, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/thomas-gainsborough-mr-and-mrs-andrews
George Stubbs, Whistlejacket, circa 1762, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/george-stubbs-whistlejacket
John Constable, The Hay Wain, 1821, a scene by the River Stour, near Flatford, Suffolk, U.K., http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/john-constable-the-hay-wain
Pierre-Auguste Renoir - The Umbrellas (1881-86), This painting was done over the span of five years, offering a unique perspective of the artist's evolving style, and the evolution of fashion in Paris, at that time. http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/pierre-auguste-renoir-the-umbrellas
Georges Seurat, Bathers at Asnières. 1884, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/georges-seurat-bathers-at-asnieres
van Gogh, Vincent
- Sunflowers, 1888, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/vincent-van-gogh-sunflowers
- A Wheatfield, with Cypresses, 1889, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/vincent-van-gogh-a-wheatfield-with-cypresses
- Farms near Auvers, 1890, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/vincent-van-gogh-farms-near-auvers
- Long Grass with Butterflies, 1890, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/vincent-van-gogh-long-grass-with-butterflies
Paul Cézanne - The Bathers, circa 1900, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/paul-cezanne-bathers-les-grandes-baigneuses
There is a nice collection by Claude-Oscar Monet, - The Water-Lily Pond" (1899), http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/claude-oscar-monet-the-water-lily-pond
The Japanese Bridge, c. 1919-24, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/claude-oscar-monet-the-japanese-bridge
and other Lily related paintings by the artist, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/claude-oscar-monet-water-lilies, and http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/claude-oscar-monet-water-lilies-setting-sun
One of his London paintings... http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/claude-oscar-monet-the-thames-below-westminster
and one of his “Irises”, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/claude-oscar-monet-irises
and 'Bathers at La Grenouillere', 1869, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/claude-oscar-monet-bathers-at-la-grenouillere
There is a nice collection by Camille Pissarro, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/camille-pissarro
There are a few paintings with regard to St. George and the Dragon, an important topic for the English.
One by Paolo Uccello, c.1470, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/paolo-uccello-saint-george-and-the-dragon, seems to be the most poular
One by Jacopo Tintoretto, c.1555, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jacopo-tintoretto-saint-george-and-the-dragon
One by Domenichino, 1610, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/domenichino-saint-george-killing-the-dragon, is my favorite.
One by Gustave Moreau, 1889-90, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/gustave-moreau-saint-george-and-the-dragon, is also worthy.
And when I mention my personal favorites, there is a painting that succeeds in offering the tragic end of an innocent girl, at the hands of politicians and power brokers.
Paul Delaroche's 'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey', 1833, http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/paul-delaroche-the-execution-of-lady-jane-grey really should be examined up close and personal. a short knowledge of her story is essential to really understand the power of the piece.
another piece, by Turner, is related to Trafalgar Square in that the subject is a ship that fought in the battle, but rather than depict a great moment, its the sad end, is the ship is towed to the wreckers.
"The Fighting Temeraire" (1839), by Joseph Mallord William Turner. , http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/joseph-mallord-william-turner-the-fighting-temeraire
and if you are still looking for more art, here is a list of Other Galleries of Note:
The Tate Britain and Tate Modern, (the Chantrry Bequest), has a great assortment of British art at both facilities.
The Royal Academy at Burlington House.
The Gilbert Collection at Somerset House.
The Hermitage at Somerset House.
The Victoria and Albert Museum, ‘Albertville’, Brompton Road.
The Wallace Collection, Marylebone.
The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace.
Apsley House, at Hyde park Corner.
Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath, ( the Iveagh Bequest).
Dulwich Picture Gallery, http://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/, South London.
to mention a few.
CHEERS
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