The National Gallery. Paintings, People, Portraits

Since it was established in 1824, the National Gallery has become a beacon for London's visitors and residents alike. From its inception in John Julius Angerstein's home in Mayfair to its current home in Trafalgar Square, it has expanded both its collection and its footprint to become one of the world's leading galleries. This book features photographic portraits by David Dawson and Mary McCartney in addition to photography of the Gallery by Massimo Listri. It brings together over 200 of the Gallery's paintings, which were made between the 13th and 20th centuries, including memorable masterpieces from both the famous and the forgotten.

These pages tell the history of painting in the Western European tradition through the National Gallery's collection. You’ll go on a visual journey through the centuries, with works by Duccio, Van Eyck, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Vigée Le Brun, Gainsborough, Morisot, and Matisse, to name just a few. Punctuating this story are contributions by and photographic portraits of 25 cultural figures, such as Frank Auerbach, Alvaro Barrington, Edward Enninful, David Hockney, Kim Jones, Damian Lewis, Sahara Longe, Chris Ofili, Ai Weiwei, Rachel Whiteread, Annabelle Selldorf, and Flora Yukhnovich, among others.

MEDIA REVIEWS

“This hardcover tome is a piece of art for the home.” - Harper’s Bazaar

“Rigorous and comprehensive in scope, spanning nearly 600 pages and 700 years of art history.” - My Modern Met

“[A] lavishly lovely bicentary souvenir.” - Financial Times

“This lavish outsize volume is an extravert and delectable monument to its history, valuable especially for the quality and quantity of reproduced paintings, but also for wise commentaries, notably from living artists.” - Financial Times

“A splendid tome. Not only is there a visual feast through centuries of painting in the Western European tradition, but photographic portraits of 25 leading cultural figures alongside their favorite masterworks offer fresh new insights into the classics and how they continue to shape creative sensibilities today.” - Galerie

“Never before has this museum been so close from afar.” - Welt am Sonntag

“You can look at it again and again: The National Gallery. Paintings, People, Portraits brings together around 200 works from the collection to tell the story of 700 years of art history. Magnificent!” - Der Standard

“The volume allows for readers to sneak behind the scenes of their most beloved works.” - 10 Magazine

“Invite the iconic museum into your own home with this new book.” - Homes & Antiques

“A hefty tome.” - The Art Newspaper

“I go to the National Gallery rather like going to a doctor for help.” - Lucian Freud, 1988