Art Appreciation: The National Gallery: History and Highlights (online)

The National Gallery is a world-famous art collection, attracting thousands of visitors every day. It was created in 1824, some 200 years ago. This anniversary is the occasion to (re)discover the history of this popular museum. Over six weeks, we will look at the development of the gallery’s collection, and see the evolution of taste and of the canon. While some works are relegated to store rooms, some masterpieces seem not to age, and remain the visitors’ favourites decade after decade. We will come back on the National Gallery’s foundation and its purpose as the nation’s painting collection, and an art museum for all. We will compare it with other British, European and American art museums and define what’s making this one special. We will retrace some of the key moments of its history, such as its role during the Second World War. We will then look at some key works of art in its carefully acquired collection, some “highlights”. Finally, we will touch on lesser-known subjects, such as conservation stories, as well as issues of museography, i.e. the display of works of art in the museum. In this context, we will have a good look at some of the frames.