#OnThisDay in 1838 we first opened our doors in Trafalgar Square but #DidYouKnow that this wasn& #39;t our first home?

We might be closed at the moment but we can still take a trip down memory lane and tell you all about our history. #MuseumFromHome

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Angerstein& #39;s collection consisted of Italian works, including a large altarpiece by Sebastiano del Piombo, & #39;The Raising of Lazarus& #39; which still has the inventory number NG1 today: https://bit.ly/2JTjDXO ">https://bit.ly/2JTjDXO&q...
The pictures were displayed at Angerstein& #39;s house at 100 Pall Mall until a dedicated gallery building was built.

The size of the building was compared unfavourably with other national art galleries, such as the Louvre in Paris, and ridiculed in the press...
Trafalgar Square could be reached by the rich driving in their carriages from the west of London, and on foot by the poor from the East End.

It was felt that in this location the paintings could be enjoyed by all classes in society.
With a commitment to free admission, a central and accessible site, and extended opening hours the Gallery ensured that its collection could be enjoyed by the widest public possible.
So that& #39;s how we came to be in Trafalgar Square!

You can learn all about our collection online here or by using some of the links in the tweet below: https://bit.ly/2XodnQ6 ">https://bit.ly/2XodnQ6&q...

We can& #39;t wait to welcome you all back. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Red heart" aria-label="Emoji: Red heart">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🕵️" title="Detective" aria-label="Emoji: Detective"> Delve deeper into our history: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/about-us/history/about-the-building?viewPage=1

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/about-us/... class="Emoji" style="height:16px;" src=" https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🔍" title="Left-pointing magnifying glass" aria-label="Emoji: Left-pointing magnifying glass"> Take a closer look at all of our paintings: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/search-the-collection

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings... class="Emoji" style="height:16px;" src=" https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🖼️" title="Frame with picture" aria-label="Emoji: Frame with picture"> Find out more about how our collection began: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/about-us/history/collection-history

https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/about-us/... class="Emoji" style="height:16px;" src=" https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚪" title="Door" aria-label="Emoji: Door"> Go behind the scenes at the Gallery: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/behind-the-scenes">https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/behind-th...
If you want to know more, & #39;The National Gallery: An Illustrated History& #39; is the perfect book for you! This book aims to give insight into the history of the people and events that have helped shape the Gallery: https://bit.ly/2RgF75d ">https://bit.ly/2RgF75d&q...
You can follow @NationalGallery.
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