07 May 2024

We carefully selected 12 Masterpieces from the London National Gallery to celebrate its 200th Anniversary

To celebrate the Museum's 200th anniversary, the London National Gallery will send 12 masterpieces from its permanent collection to 12 museums and galleries across the United Kingdom; they will be unveiled  simultaneously on May 10th .  

To celebrate the Museum’s 200th anniversary, the London National Gallery will send 12 masterpieces from its permanent collection to 12 museums and galleries across the United Kingdom; they will be unveiled  simultaneously on May 10th .  

Scala Archives, as the National Gallery’s authorized representative in Europe, Russia, Central and South America, is thrilled to be part of the #NG200 celebrations by carefully selecting and presenting to you our own choice of 12 masterpieces from the museum.  

A Brief History of the London National Gallery

The National Gallery in London was founded in 1824 with the aim of making art accessible to all. The initial step towards this goal was Parliament’s decision to acquire 38 paintings from banker John Julius Angerstein.

Private collectors and politicians who were inspired by the cultural climate and a passion for aesthetics became the primary supporters of the museum. Notable figures involved in this endeavour included John Julius Angerstein, Lord Liverpool, Sir George Beaumont, and Sir Charles Long.

The initial works entering the collection were, in fact, the result of private donations. These along with later curatorial acquisitions included pieces by Raphael, Rembrandt, and Rubens. Over the course of several decades, European art, and especially the Italian Renaissance, remained a central focus of the museum’s acquisitions.

‘Cross-readings at Charing-Cross’, London,1835 (in the background the National Gallery under construction) – H223108

The National Gallery in London was initially located in Pall Mall, but the building was inadequate for its needs. Architect William Wilkins was commissioned to design a new building, which eventually became the central structure of the iconic neo-classical headquarters in Trafalgar Square. This building was built between 1832 and 1838 and by the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth had expanded by several pavilions.

12 Must-See Details in National Gallery Masterpieces

Scala Archives is renowned worldwide for its exceptional photographic quality, ensuring faithful reproduction of 1:1 details from the most renowned paintings in art history.

The National Gallery’s photo library offers Scala and its customers a comprehensive collection of detailed images showcasing the main masterpieces in its collection.

Uncover the wonders of the National Gallery in this blog post, as it explores the nuances of 12 famous paintings, presented in chronological order according to their inclusion into the museum’s permanent collection.

NG00014 – Jan van Eyck, I coniugi Arnolfini, 1434
Jan van Eyck, The Arnolfini Portrait, 1434 
(Oil on oak, 82.2 x 60 cm. Acc. No.: NG186. Purchase, 1842) – NG00014 – Click here to see the complete Gallery of the Details of this work.  
Paolo Uccello, The Battle of San Romano, circa 1438-40   (Egg tempera with walnut oil and linseed on poplar panel, 182 x 320 cm. Purchase, 1857. Acc. Non.: 4577) – NG03173 – Click here to see the complete Gallery of the Details of this work.
Michelangelo, The Virgin and Child with St. John and the Angels (“The Manchester Madonna”), circa 1497 (Tempera on wood, 104.5 x 77 cm. Purchase, 1870. Acc.n No.: 5061) – NG01062 –
Click here to see the complete Gallery of the Details of this work.  
Hans Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors, 1533 (Oil on oak, 207 x 209.5 cm. Acc. No.: NG1314. Purchase, 1890) – NG00024 – Click here to see the complete Gallery of the Details of this work.  
  
Pierre Auguste Renoir, The Umbrellas, circa 1881-86 (Oil on canvas, 180.3 x 114.9 cm. Sir Hugh Lane Legacy, 1917. Acc. No.n.: 6110) – NG01315 – Click here to see the complete Gallery of the Details of this work.
Thomas Gainsborough, Mr and Mrs Andrews, circa 1750 (il on canvas, 69.8 x 119.4 cm. Purchased with the contribution of the Pilgrim Trust, The Art Fund, Associated Television Ltd, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Spooner, 1960. Acc.n No.: 1592) – NG00654 – Click here to see the complete Gallery of the Details of this work.
Joachim Beuckelaer, The Four Elements: Fire. A Kitchen Scene with Christ in the House of Martha and Mary in the Background, 1570 (Oil on canvas, 157.5 x 215.5 cm. Purchase, 2001. Acc.n No.: 7360) – NG00209 – Click here to see the complete Gallery of the Details of this work.
Turner, The Fighting Temeraire, 1838-1839 
(Oil on canvas, 90.7 x 121.6 cm. Acc. No.: NG524. Turner Inheritance, 1856)  – NG00068 – Click here to see the complete Gallery of the Details of this work.
Piero della Francesca, Baptism of Christ, c. 1450  (Egg tempera on poplar panel, 167 x 116 cm. Acc. No.: NG665. It comes from the Chapel of St. John the Baptist of the Camaldolese abbey (now the cathedral) of Borgo Sansepolcro. Purchased in 1861.) – NG00033 – Click here to see the complete Gallery of the Details of this work.
Leonardo da Vinci, The Virgin of the Rocks, 1491 – 1508 (Oil on wood, 189.5 x 120 cm. Acc. No.: NG1093. Purchase, 1880) – NG03153 – Click here to see the complete Gallery of the Details of this work.  
Antonello da Messina, Saint Jerome in his Study, circa 1475 (Oil on lime, 45.7 x 36.2 cm. Acc. No.: NG1418. Purchase, 1894) – NG03159 – Click here to see the complete Gallery of the Details of this work.
Bartolomé Bermejo, Saint Michael triumphant over the Devil with the Donor Antonio Juan, 1468 (Oil on gold on panel, 179.7 x 81.9 cm. Purchase of Private Treaty Sale with the contribution of American Friends of the National Gallery, made possible by Mr J. Paul Getty Jnr’s Endowment Fund, 1995. Acc.n No.: 1636) – NG00204 – Click here to see the complete Gallery of the Details of this work.
 

Click here to check out all the masterpieces from the London National Gallery available on the Scala website.   

If you’re in need of additional images or require custom details for your project, our specialized photo laboratory is at your service.

Scala Archives serves as the official and at times exclusive distributor of content from numerous museums globally and boasts over 70 years of experience in carrying out special photographic campaigns.  

Explore the main museum from which you can access useful content for your projects and feel free to reach out to our Sales Team to discuss and determine the most suitable license. 

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In the cover: National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London, c. 1838. Façade elevation and floor plan. The building, designed by William Wilkins, was completed in 1824. Guildhall Library & Art Gallery, London H226616

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