In a dynamic cultural context, the National Gallery in London marks a significant milestone in its history: a major reorganization of its permanent collection, carried out to mark the institution's bicentenary. It is the most significant reconfiguration since the inauguration of the Sainsbury Wing in 1991 – a coherent curatorial intervention designed to reactivate the dialogue between the public and the works of art.
"Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun's - Self-portrait in a Straw Hat (1782)"
Contemporary curation in a classic institution
The new presentation of the collection reflects a careful balance between tradition and updating. Under the title " CC Land: The Wonder of Art" , the gallery proposes a narrative and contextualized reading of the works, without slipping into didacticism. At a time when museum institutions are faced with ideological tensions and commercial pressures, the National Gallery opts for an intelligent visual discourse, articulated through revalued historical landmarks and innovative curatorial associations.
"Bartolomé Bermejo's - Saint Michael Triumphs over the Devil (1468)"
Art as a multisensory experience
The new museum structure emphasizes the visitor experience. The rooms are reconfigured to offer coherent paths, and the spaces are arranged with careful chromatic and scenographic attention. Established masterpieces – such as Stubbs' Whistlejacket or Raphael's The Mond Crucifixion – are joined by recently integrated presences, such as works by Michael Sweerts or James Tissot, in a fluid exhibition architecture.
Large-scale temporary exhibitions – from Van Gogh and Sienese painting to a future project focused on Seurat and Caravaggio – expand the palette of visual dialogues, proposing trans-epoch relationships with aesthetic and theoretical stakes.
Subtle interventions, significant results
Rearranging some works – such as Veronese’s Respect , repositioned according to its original intention as a ceiling decoration – adds authenticity and restores the works’ spatial dimension. Restoring the original frames and carefully calibrated relighting give works by Leonardo, Piero della Francesca or Uccello an unexpected freshness.
"Portrait of a Man by Jan van Eyck (1433)"
Sainsbury Wing: a strategic reopening
The reconfiguration process is closely linked to the renovation of the Sainsbury wing, which will benefit from a new, more accessible and functional entrance. The route between the tube station and the Titian works is being optimised, while some of the collection's most important works will be relocated to dedicated spaces.
Expanded curatorial vision
The thematic selection proposes relevant accents: a room dedicated to gilded medieval art, a generous space for Monet, a corner for pastels and oil studies, as well as juxtapositions between artists that problematize influence and visual dialogue – from Rembrandt and Titian, to Caravaggio and Honthorst.
In addition, the gallery affirms its commitment to recovering the contribution of women artists in history, including works by Catharina van Hemessen, Rosa Bonheur or Paula Rego, in a necessary and rigorous historiographical reevaluation movement.
A museum of the present
The reorganization of the National Gallery is not just an aesthetic endeavor, but a firm institutional statement regarding the relevance of art in contemporary society. With a clear vision and a balanced curatorial strategy, the gallery reaffirms the role of the museum not as a space of passive conservation, but as an active platform for interpretation, education and dialogue.
Source: nationalgallery.org.uk
