The National Gallery in London, UK, is one of the most visited and most famous museums on the planet dedicated to painting. This incredible museum is located in Trafalgar Square, and it’s housed in an amazing neoclassical building. Unlike most other art museums like the Louvre, this museum wasn’t formed by the Nationalization of royal art collections, instead, it was started when the UK (or British) government bought 36 paintings from John Julius Angerstein (a banker), in the year 1824.
With over 2300 paintings on display, the National Gallery has one of the world’s greatest art collections; it has seminal art works from all the important epochs in the history of art. The museum has the largest collection of Italian Renaissance paintings outside of Italy, with great works by many Venetian and Florentine masters. There are also holdings of works by numerous British, Spanish, Dutch, French, and Flemish painters from 15th century to 19th century. The works of art in this museum actually date from between 13th century to 19th century, including great masterpieces by some of the greatest talents like Degas, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Renoir, Goya, Titian, Cézanne, Turner, among others. Some of the popular exhibits in the museum include; The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein, Water Lily Pond by Claude Monet, and Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh.
The National Gallery museum is divided into four sections, with each area dedicated to certain centuries. The sections are split into various numbered rooms which generally cover particular topics. That said, you should know that many of the visitors tend to flock the East Wing (1700 to 1900), where great works by 18th century British artists like Turner, Gainsborough, and Constable, are on display. Here you’ll also find seminal Post Impressionist and Impressionist masterpieces by Renoir, Van Gogh, and Claude Monet. Of all the great art museums on the planet, the National Gallery in London is the only Museum where you can truly enjoy a breathtaking scope of Great European paintings from between the 13th century and 19 century. The museum has numerous audio guides and tours which can help you explore the art collections more easily, and make the most of your tour.
Best Time of the Year To Visit
If you want to visit when it’s less crowded, you should consider visiting between the months of January and February. The National Gallery Museum is usually quietest and less crowded during these months. To enjoy the beautiful museum without all the hustle and bustle, consider starting your visit early in the morning. By doing this, you’ll be able to use one of the seats available to relax, as you enjoy the incredible paintings.
