Being home to more than 2,300 paintings belonging from the 13th century to the 20th century, the National Gallery in London is a paradise for art lovers and millions of them come here. It is one of the most popular and most visited museums in the world. This museum, founded in 1824, carries some of the greatest and most distinct painting numbers on the planet, with artwork from the French Impressionists, the Italian Renaissance, the late medieval period, etc. The museum is fittingly present at the heart of the London city. The museum was founded when the British Government acquired almost 40 paintings from the family members of John Angerstein who was a patron of the arts. He had a huge collection of paintings by several masters of art, and after he died, his inheritors decided to sell paintings to save the rest of his fortune.

The National Gallery in London during the sunset — Photo by Daniel H. Tong on Unsplash

Significance of the National Gallery in London

Despite displaying the artworks, the National Gallery also hosts various temporary exhibits throughout the year. They also conduct family workshops for children and even regular concerts. Cramped with over 3200 paintings, it will take days to observe every painting in detail. Hence, here are some of the best paintings at the gallery that you should take a look at.

Front view of the National gallery — Photo by Anas Miah on Unsplash

Wheatfield with Cypresses

This Oil-on-canvas painting was the last work of the famous artist Van Gogh. He died right after completing this piece. This was inspired by the window of his asylum in which he was staying. The creativity of the artist in the painting will astonish anyone who sees it.

Wilton Diptych

It is one of the oldest paintings in the museum. This was painted for King Richard II of England. The painting is an excellent representative of the International Gothic style. People say that the nationality of the artist to be probably French or English.

The Virgin of the Rocks

This masterpiece, also known as the Madonna of the Rocks, belonged to the great Leonardo da Vinci. Also, Leonardo earned a commission for portraying the Virgin in honour of the concept of Immaculate Conception. The doctrine was the faith proclaiming that Mary was conceived without original sin.

The Baptism of Christ

This 15th-century painting was one of the finest works of the Italian Renaissance master Piero Della Francesca. It depicts the baptism of Jesus by St John the Baptist in Jordan River. The painting has so much detail in it like the hometown of the artist being in the background. I’ll leave the rest of the details for you to find.

The Ambassadors

This extraordinary painting was painted by the Hans Holbein the Younger. It dates back to the 16th century and the painting is a paramount example of Holbein’s skill in creating images and in handling oil paint to recreate a mixture of textures.

Visiting the National Gallery London

The National Gallery is located at London WC2N 5DN. It is located right in the city-centre of London. It is accessible by all mean of public transport. Here is your guide to reach the museum by public transport.

Metro Service in london locally known as tube — Photo by Pau Casals on Unsplash

Tube: Charing Cross (one-minute walk away) and Leicester Square (three-minute walk away) are the nearest stations to the gallery.
Train: You can also catch a train and get down at Charing Cross station, which is a three-minute walk away from the gallery
Bus: Routes 3, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 24, 87, 91, 139, and 176, all of which stop at Trafalgar Square, will help you reach the National gallery by bus.

Things you might want to know

Save at least half an hour before or after your visit to the museum to check out Trafalgar Square. Don’t forget to capture some photos of Nelson’s Column, one of the most iconic relics in London.
If you would like, you can download the National Gallery podcast. They have more background information about the art that is available currently in the museum. They also have the tours you can listen to throughout your visit.
Photography is allowed in the gallery. It’s for personal and non-commercial use only. However, Photography in the exhibitions, use of flash photography, tripods and selfie sticks are strictly prohibited.

Are you a vivid art lover wanting to be there at one of the greatest museums in the world and treat your eyes with paintings by artistic masters? National Gallery in London is something that you should never miss on your trip to London. Starting planning your own London trip by looking at the packages available at Pickyourtrail. Guess what you can customise your itineraries as well. Happy Travelling!