The National Gallery in London, UK
– Art Free for All
The National Gallery in London, UK is located in Trafalgar Square and has over 2,300 paintings in its collection. It all began in 1824 when the House of Commons decided to purchase the art collection of John Julius Angerstein and create a national collection with it.
Sir George Beaumont, a landscape painter and art collector, donated his own collection to the museum in 1826, and these two collections were the beginnings of the museum. A new building was constructed and opened to the public in 1838, and since then its free admission and extended opening hours have made it an art venue that is welcoming and available to everyone, rich or poor. The National Gallery has an enormous collection of art, representing every school of European painting and works by almost all of the great masters. Some well known works housed at the National Gallery are Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Virgin of the Rocks”, Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”, and Velasquez’s “Rokeby Venus”. There is educational programming planned for children and Family Sunday activities make it a fun place to spend the weekend with kids. The museum also has live music concerts each Friday evening where musicians from the Royal College of Music perform. Friday nights also feature Friday Lates; the museum is open until 9 PM and you are welcome to wander the galleries, sit at the bar for a drink, or get a bite to eat at the Museum Café. The best times to visit the National Gallery are weekday mornings, as you are less likely to encounter crowds and can enjoying the paintings at your own pace. It is recommended that you make several visits to the museum, there is far too much to be enjoyed in just one day. The museum’s central London location makes it easy to come back over several days and take your time wandering through each wing. The National Gallery in London, UK is just what a national art museum should be; a large accessible collection of masterpieces.
National Gallery Address: Trafalgar Square, Westminster, WC2N 5DN Telephone: 020 7747 2885 Opening Times 10am-6pm daily, late night Fridays until 9pm | Closed 1st January, 24th-26th December. Pricing FREE. Special exhibitions prices vary.
Photo courtesy: n_willsey
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