Is visiting Trafalgar Square on your itinerary? If yes, then add another…it’s situated right on the north side of this square…Any idea what it is?

Yes, it’s the National Gallery London.

I know, many would think …” Oh, just another art gallery”.

But let me ask you…How many art galleries in the world house the masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Raphael, Turner, and Rembrandt under one roof? Very few…I am telling you.

And if I am not wrong, this gallery has more than 2000 paintings from 1200 AD to modern days…Would you still miss the gallery?

I know you won’t.

So, while you are in London, carve out at least two hours from your jam-packed itinerary and come to this National Gallery London.

So, where exactly is this gallery?

Well, it’s in central London… a stone’s throw from the National Portrait Gallery and St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church.

You can hop on a bus, Tube, or bicycle…whatever suits you and head for Trafalgar Square. Once you are at Trafalgar Square, finding the National Gallery is a breeze.

It’s right there, on the northern edge.

Now, the story of its birth

For this, I must take you back to 19th-century London…a thriving, bustling city that had everything except a public art gallery. Sure, the wealthy aristocrats had their private collections of art, but what about the average Londoner? They didn’t have any access to the grand masterpieces of European art at all.

Things needed to change, there was no doubt about it.

Then came the year 1824, when a wealthy art collector urged the government to purchase a collection of 38 paintings from the estate of merchant John Julius Angerstein. Clearly, it wasn’t that simple. What followed was a series of heated debates, but finally…the historic decision was made.

British Government was ready to purchase the Angerstein collection for £57,000.

And just like that, the works of Raphael, Titian, and Rembrandt…became part of the National Gallery.

Though initially these paintings were housed in Angerstein\’s former townhouse, they needed a permanent home, a grander public space where a number of people could visit. That’s when the public space on the north side of Trafalgar Square came to notice and it was perfect in every sense.

The construction began…and in the next 14 years National Gallery was ready to open its doors to the world. The collection started to grow rapidly through acquisitions, gifts, and sometimes, through bequests.

The gallery was no longer just for displaying pretty paintings, but it decided to play a much more important role in fostering a sense of cultural identity among Londoners and to elevate their taste in fine art.

And what about its architecture?

I would say, it’s a masterpiece in itself…

The original building of this gallery was designed primarily in a neoclassical style by William Wilkins. That’s why, upon entering you can see…those tall Corinthian columns and a central dome. As part of typical neoclassical architecture, he added several symmetrical designs here and there…just to maintain the balance and harmony of the space.

But, just like paintings…here also, some critics didn’t like the architecture at all. They thought it lacked originality and called it bland. But what they failed to see was … the building was deliberately designed in such a manner to complement Trafalgar Square and to give it a commanding presence.

Despite all the criticism, London kept on adding more collections to the walls of this gallery. As a result, the gallery had no other choice but to expand. They kept on adding new wings. The mix of classical stonework, modernist steel, and unique brickwork of these new wings introduced a modern taste to the existing neoclassical gallery. Over the years, the National Gallery has of course gone through several renovations which kept it relevant in the modern age.

Today, the gallery is ready to accommodate its ever-growing collection and to welcome more and more visitors. 

How not to get lost inside?

Trust me, it’s quite challenging not to get lost inside… at least, it was for me. I missed Van Gogh just because of it.

The gallery is big. Really big.

And, that’s why…to avoid the surprise of coming back to the same room again and again…don’t forget to pick up a physical map at the entrance or simply download the National Gallery app on your phone so that you can easily check the room numbers for some famous must seen paintings.

Talking about masterpieces, there are few paintings one shouldn’t miss at any cost…

Like The ‘Virgin of the Rocks’ by none other than Leonardo da Vinci, ‘Sunflowers’ by Van Gogh, ‘The Fighting Temeraire’ by England’s favorite William Turner, and ‘A Young Woman Standing at a Virginal’ by eminent artist Vermeer. To know their exact location in the gallery, you can always find the room number on the map or on the NG website.

There’s another thing you should know…the colour-coded room system in the gallery.

Yes, the colors aren’t chosen so randomly after all.

They used the color Red for those rooms where there are Italian Renaissance paintings…whereas, blue is for British art & Impressionists. And the green rooms are dedicated to only 17th-century Dutch & Flemish art. There are still yellow rooms…generally, those are used for temporary exhibitions. So, even if you miss the yellow rooms try not to miss the others.

But, if you have very limited time, I would suggest you opt for guided tours…generally organized during the afternoon hours.

Now, let me ask you a question….

Do you think the National Gallery is just an art museum?

It didn’t feel like a mere museum to me…

The moment you enter the gallery, the chaos of London and its distractions fade into the background. It’s a whole different world.

And it starts under your feet as footsteps fall on the grandeur of the mosaic floors. You can’t feel anything but guilty for walking on it….Yes, the floors are even that beautiful. And, when you climb the next flight of stairs, you will find right above you those high neoclassical ceilings adorned with intricate designs and a touch of gold.

All of a sudden, you will feel like the entire gallery is asking you to listen and surrender to the experience that is about to unfold before your eyes.

Then comes the paintings. I believe these paintings don’t just hang on the walls… they breathe with longing, tremble with sorrow and wish to speak. After spending a few minutes quietly inside that gallery, it won’t be about looking at paintings anymore. You’ll feel them. You will try to see something more than just colours or figures. And at some point, you’ll start mirroring their emotions, tracing their stories, wondering about the hands that once held the brush.

And suddenly, you will realize that …this gallery didn’t just tell you some story of the bygone era, but made those paintings a part of you.

It’s such an experience, I bet no other building in London can give you. For this, you have to come to the National Gallery making time out of your busy schedule. To convince you more, I have some interesting facts about the gallery….

What’s more interesting?

Well, do you know during World War II, the gallery had a secret hideout? Many do not know, but yes…most of the paintings were secretly moved to a Welsh slate mine in Snowdonia to protect them from bombings. There was only 1 painting left in the entire gallery as requested by Winston Churchill to remind Londoners of their cultural heritage.

I have another surprising fact for you…

Can you guess how much was the price of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Virgin of the Rocks” when the national gallery bought it? Back then, it was just £300. Can you believe it? Such an unbelievably low price for a painting which is now considered priceless.

And then comes Room 32…is it just the largest room in the gallery? No…not at all. You know, it allowed many British political figures to make crucial decisions here. Seems like they wanted those paintings to be the witness while those decisions were made.

And what could make such a grand gallery more interesting without some ghosts and legends?

Do you know the gallery has a painting that is believed to be cursed? Yes, my friend…even the staff claimed that this tragic painting brings misfortune whenever it is moved. Apart from this, there’s always room no. 61…the room is rumored to be “haunted”.

Do you need more? For that, you have to wait for my next London blog…

On that note, now, I am signing off…until next time!