When it comes to museums there are few on the planet that instantly come to mind for their grand selection of wonders and expansive portfolio of artistic brilliance. Along with the Louvre of France, and New York’s Museum of Metropolitan Art, stands the National Gallery of London, showcasing an extensive selection of more than two thousand three hundred paintings ranging from the mid-13th century to as recently as the early 1900s.
The National Gallery of London is definitely one of the most worth-while places to visit in one’s lifetime, and there is many a central London hotel to choose from, ranging from budgeted to luxurious selections from chains such as Como Hotels & Resorts.
The National Gallery of London emerged during a time of the widespread practice of nationalising art collections owned by royal or princely sources, prevalent all across Europe. Britain however, did not take this route, and the spark that led to the creation of the museum occurred when the British Government bought a total of thirty-eight paintings from an insurance broker and patron of the arts in 1824.
The present day building which contains the extensive collection that form the National Gallery of London was designed by William Wilkins. Following criticism of his design lacking space, the ‘Tate Gallery for British Art’ was added in 1897. A few extra wings and galleries have been added since then.
The gallery houses paintings from some of the greatest who ever graced the Earth, including works by Leonardo Da Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh. One of the most recent, and controversial additions was Men of the Docks, by the American painter George Bellows which the National Gallery bought for twenty-five million Dollars, and is the first major American painting to be featured.
So step into a world of wonders at the National Gallery, and gaze upon the timeless works of visual visionaries.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.