FOOD & DRINK, ARTS & CULTURE, LIFE & TRAVEL
For the first time in history, the National Gallery in London is giving one person the chance to sleep overnight inside its hallowed halls, in celebration of its 200th anniversary and the re-opening of the Sainsbury Wing.
Renowned for his interdisciplinary practice, Wong explores the politics of identity and representation through film, performance, painting, and installation. His works often re-stage iconic scenes from world cinema to examine the construction of individual and national identities.
If you’re the kind of person who’s ever wondered about the stories hidden in the brushstrokes of a Van Gogh or the cracks of an ancient frame, you’re in for a treat.
Who says you have to travel to Paris to soak up some Monet? Thanks to the National Gallery’s Masterpiece Tour 2025–27, you can experience genius-level Impressionism without even needing your passport. Monet’s The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872) is packing its bags—well, metaphorically—and hitting the road for a once-in-two-decades adventure across the UK. It’s the equivalent of an A-list celebrity making a rare appearance in your local gallery. Don’t miss the chance to say, “I saw it here first” when it rolls into Norwich, South Shields, Blackpool, and Hull. This is serious art with some fabulous side quests. The painting, which depicts Monet’s tranquil moment by a wintery riverside, will pop up in four unique galleries, each adding its own creative spin. From trauma-informed cafés designed to foster community healing at the Sainsbury Centre to multi-sensory, accessible installations at the Ferens Art Gallery, the exhibitions aim to make sure art for everyone isn’t just a catchy slogan. And let’s not forget the annual schools’ responses, artistic collaborations, and even the chance to see the work exhibited alongside cutting-edge contemporary art. The National Gallery’s Masterpiece Tour has been impressing art fans far and wide for over a decade—over a million visitors and counting, in fact! Sir Gabriele Finaldi, National Gallery Director (and clearly a fan of bringing the art to the people), puts it best when he says it’s about connecting art to the entire cultural ecosystem of the UK. Monet might’ve painted calm rivers and whispering trees, but the buzz of excitement… Read More
This spring, the National Gallery is set to unveil an extraordinary glimpse into Renaissance art with the presentation of the Carracci Cartoons in Room 1.
Renowned artist Katrina Palmer will this December, unveil her latest masterpiece, The Touch Report, at the National Gallery.
Next spring, art enthusiasts will have the rare opportunity to witness the magnificent Carracci cartoons up close at the National Gallery. Displayed in Room 1, these extraordinary works, created around 1599, are not just impressive in size—nearly four metres wide and two metres tall—but also in their delicate execution using charcoal and white chalk. Given their fragility and grandeur, these masterpieces are seldom exhibited, making this a truly special occasion. The Carracci cartoons entered the National Gallery’s collection in 1837, thanks to a generous gift from Lord Francis Egerton. Before that, they belonged to the esteemed artist Sir Thomas Lawrence. Originally, these grand drawings were crafted as preparatory works for the painted ceiling in the gallery of Palazzo Farnese, one of Rome’s Renaissance treasures, now housing the French Embassy. The commission was initiated by Odoardo Farnese, a cardinal and the younger son of the Duke of Parma. In 1594, he enlisted the talented Carracci brothers from Bologna to adorn his family palace with artistic splendour. Upon their arrival in Rome, Annibale and Agostino Carracci drew from the grandeur of antique sculptures and the masterpieces of Michelangelo and Raphael to conjure an idealised vision of the classical world, celebrating the loves of the gods. The resulting ‘Galleria Farnese’ became a beacon of inspiration for generations of artists. The two cartoons on display are largely the work of Agostino, though Annibale is believed to have contributed to their creation. They depict scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses—stories of transformation that were integral to the frescoed ceiling in the Farnese… Read More
The National Gallery has brought a new piece of art and if classical history is your thing then this will get you excited. Well, folks, the National Gallery’s 200th-anniversary bash just got a whole lot fancier. They’ve gone and added “After the Audience” by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836–1912) to their collection. That’s right, this is the third piece they’ve snagged this year to mark the big 2-0-0. Not just any piece, mind you—this is a colossal work of art that screams ambition, scale, and historical oomph, fresh for your eyes in Room 45 starting today, Thursday, 15 August 2024. So, who is this Alma-Tadema bloke? Born in the Netherlands but a British darling by choice, he was the darling of the Victorian era, mesmerizing everyone with his pitch-perfect portrayals of Classical antiquity. While his work took a bit of a nap in the public eye posthumously, it’s been back in vogue since the groovy ’60s. “After the Audience” takes us way back to Ancient Rome and showcases Agrippa, the son-in-law of Emperor Augustus, striding up the stairs of his villa after a long day of listening to petitioners from all corners of the Empire. The gifts from these petitioners are sprawled out in the foreground, making for quite the visual feast. The National Gallery didn’t just stumble upon this masterpiece; it was a well-orchestrated acquisition from a private collection, thanks to the wheeling and dealing by Christie’s Private Sales. The purchase was made possible due to the generosity of Mrs. Martha Doris Bailey, Mr. Richard… Read More
In the winter of 2024?25, as part of the NG200 celebrations, the National Gallery will host an extraordinary exhibition titled “Discover Constable and The Hay Wain”. This exhibition will centre on John Constable’s masterpiece, The Hay Wain (1821), and represents the first loan exhibition dedicated to Constable (1776–1837) at the National Gallery. The exhibition aims to explore the social, political, and artistic context in which The Hay Wain was created, highlighting the radical reception the painting initially received and its eventual acclaim. The timing of this exhibition is significant as it marks the bicentenary year of the National Gallery. In 1824, The Hay Wain achieved international recognition and was awarded a gold medal at the Paris Salon by French King Charles X. Today, The Hay Wain is a symbol of the quintessential British countryside and has become an icon in pop culture, though it was once regarded as a revolutionary reimagining of landscape painting. One of the primary goals of this exhibition is to trace the journey of Constable’s work into major collections and to celebrate significant donations to the national collections from Isabel Constable, his daughter, and art collectors such as John Sheepshanks and Henry Vaughan. The exhibition will delve into the acquisition history of The Hay Wain by the National Gallery in 1886 and examine the rise in both the painting’s and Constable’s popularity since then. The Hay Wain depicts a serene rural scene on the River Stour, near Flatford Mill, which was owned by Constable’s father. This setting reflects Constable’s intimate connection… Read More
The Royal Academy of Arts’ Summer Exhibition is a unique celebration of contemporary art and architecture, providing a vital platform and support for the artistic community. Each year, the Royal Academy presents a number of prizes for outstanding works within the exhibition. This year proves to be no exception, with a remarkable slate of winners reflecting exceptional talent and creativity. The Charles Wollaston Award The prestigious £35,000 Charles Wollaston Award, one of the most significant art prizes in the country and now in its 26th year, is presented to the ‘most distinguished work’ in the exhibition. The 2024 award was judged by Stephen Farthing RA, Anna Moszynska, and Joana Neves. This year’s prize was awarded to Tracey Emin RA for her work Did it Ever Get Any Better (Cat. 399, Gallery III). The AXA Art Prize UK 2024 Awarded £10,000 for an outstanding work of figurative art, this prize honours exemplary talent in the depiction of the human figure. Judges Jennifer Schipf, Mark Hampson, and Gillian Wearing RA selected Wendy Freestone’s piece, IN THE QUIETEST MOMENTS (Cat. 2, Gallery I), as the winner. The Jack Goldhill Award for Sculpture Sculpture enthusiasts celebrate the £10,000 Jack Goldhill Award for Sculpture. This year, the judges Judy Goldhill, Tom Brent, Es Devlin, Georgia Kerr, Hew Locke RA, and Ina Sarikhani awarded the prize to Brigit Connolly for her work GIVE AND TAKE (Cat. 1581, Lecture Room). The British Institution Fund Award for Students Designed to promote excellence within student communities, The British Institution Fund Award offers £5,000 for… Read More
