The National Gallery: A History

Published in the National Gallery’s Bicentenary year, this is the story of how one of the world’s finest collections of paintings was formed by (and for) the people of Britain

For two hundred years the National Gallery has been at the heart of the nation’s life. Established in 1824 and situated in the centre of London with a commitment to free admission, it was conceived as a gallery to be enjoyed by all, while also serving as a place of refuge in times of war and crisis.

The National Gallery: A History tells the story of an institution that holds education, social cohesion, and national heritage at its core, and whose outstanding collection has shaped the art historical canon over two centuries. Special focus on fifteen highlight paintings affords an opportunity to explore changes in taste over the decades, as well as the reactions of visitors to the Gallery’s great works of art.

Published by National Gallery Global/Distributed by Yale University Press

Jonathan Conlin is professor of Modern History at the University of Southampton. His books include The Met: A History of a Museum and Its People (forthcoming) and a cultural history of the 1969 BBC2 television series Civilisation.