What’s On at The National Gallery?

Sitting proudly in Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery houses Great Britain’s national collection of European paintings. It dates back to 1824, when the British government bought 38 pictures belonging to banker John Julius Angerstein. These were displayed at Angerstein’s house at 100 Pall Mall until 1831, when Parliament agreed to construct a building for the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square. It eventually opened in 1838, and has remained there as a pivotal art venue ever since. Below, we bring you the latest on what’s coming up at the gallery.

More Exhibitions

What’s On at The National Gallery?

The Credit Suisse Exhibition: Raphael

Raphael, An Allegory (‘Vision of a Knight’), about 1504, © The National Gallery, London

This April, The National Gallery will host one of the first ever exhibitions exploring the complete career of one of the most prolific artists of all time, Raphael. Complete with loans from the Louvre, National Gallery of Art, the Prado Museum, Uffizi Museum and the Vatican Museum, the show will include a mixture of his paintings and drawings, plus his work in architecture, poetry, sculpture and prints. 9 April – 31 July 2022

Picasso Ingres: Face to Face

Madame Moitessier, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres , 1856, © The National Gallery, London

When he first saw Madame Moitessier by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres at an exhibition in Paris, Picasso was instantly captivated. The image would go on to inspire him throughout his life, with his 1932 depiction of Ingres, Woman with a Book, becoming one of his most celebrated portraits. Now, for the first time, the two artworks are being brought together in a new show launching in June. 3 June – 9 October 2022

The Credit Suisse Exhibition: Lucian Freud: New Perspective

Lucian Freud, Girl with Roses, 1947-8, Courtesy of the British Council Collection. Photo © The British Council, © The Lucian Freud Archive / Bridgeman Images

Over 60 Lucian Freud paintings are going on show later this year, exploring how the artist’s work changed and developed throughout his career. In his early years, Freud was influenced by surrealism, but in the early 1950s his paintings tended towards realism, with portraits usually sombre and often unsettling. He also began to focus on private studies of friends and family rather than powerful public figures. The show explores these transitions, aiming to look beyond the controversial historical context of Freud and focus instead on his commitment to painting during the 20th century. 1 October 2022 – 22 January 2023

For more information visit nationalgallery.org.uk

Main image: National Gallery, London

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