The National Gallery London 2016

The National Gallery in London houses one of the most significant collections of Western European painting in the world, spanning from the mid-13th century to the early 20th century. Founded in 1824 when the British government purchased 38 paintings from the estate of banker John Julius Angerstein, the gallery grew steadily through donations, bequests, and acquisitions over the following two centuries. It moved to its current purpose-built home on Trafalgar Square in 1838, a neoclassical building designed by architect William Wilkins that has since been expanded several times, most notably with the Sainsbury Wing addition in 1991. Unlike many national collections built on royal holdings, the National Gallery was founded explicitly for public access. The collection includes masterworks by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Turner, Van Gogh, and Monet. Highlights include Van Gogh's "Sunflowers," Leonardo's "The Virgin of the Rocks," Velázquez's "The Rokeby Venus," and Constable's "The Hay Wain," each drawing large crowds year-round. The gallery is organized roughly chronologically across its wings, allowing visitors to trace the development of European painting from early Renaissance altarpieces through to Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. Beyond its permanent collection, the National Gallery regularly hosts major temporary exhibitions.