The National Gallery, London

The National Gallery is located directly north of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It was founded in 1824 with only 38 paintings at first, but has since expanded to become a national art gallery with a collection of paintings.

The gallery has a collection of 2,300 paintings from the 13th to the 19th century, making it one of the galleries with the largest, most comprehensive and most representative Western European paintings. Its collection includes masterpieces by many famous artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Monet and others.

The works in the museum are exhibited in the four wings of the east, south, west and north in chronological order. The Sainsbury Wing, added in 1991, houses early Renaissance art from 1260 to 1510, including famous works such as Leonardo da Vincis charcoal sketch of "Madonna and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist". The West Wing displays Italian and German paintings from the High Renaissance from 1510 to 1600. The North Wing houses paintings from the Netherlands, Italy, France and Spain from 1600 to 1700, including two Rembrandt rooms and Diego Velazquezs Venus painting "Venus at the Mirror". The East Wing displays paintings from 1700 to 1900, including paintings from Venice, France and Britain from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Landscapes are a major feature here, as well as masterpieces such as Romanticism and Impressionism.

Because its collection belongs to the British public, the gallery is open to the public for free, but there are occasional special exhibitions for a fee. Visitors can also get a portable guide device from the information desk to learn about the background of the main works.

Some of the famous collections of the National Gallery include: Leonardo da Vincis "Madonna of the Rocks", "Madonna and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist"; Raphaels "Madonna of Anside"; Velázquezs "Venus in the Mirror"; Monets "Water Lilies", etc.

In 2024, the National Gallery will sort out the past and look to the future, holding a year-long series of events, including a number of exhibitions across the UK to showcase "national treasures", "Van Gogh: Poet and Lover" (coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the acquisition of "Van Goghs Chair" and "Sunflowers"), "Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300-1350" (the first comprehensive display of early Sienese art outside Italy), strengthen online research and develop education programs, and finally re-display the permanent collection in 2025.

Its opening hours are usually from 10:00 to 18:00 from Tuesday to Sunday, and extended to 21:00 on Friday (the specific opening hours may be adjusted due to special circumstances, it is recommended to pay attention to its official website for the latest information). The subway stations near the art gallery include Charing Cross and Leicester Square, which can be reached in a few minutes walk after exiting the station.