42. How the National Gallery Began

Get to know the man behind the beginnings of the National Gallery. With the assistance of artists such as Joshua Reynolds and Benjamin West, John Julius Angerstein started to establish a collection of Old Master Paintings. In total, he collected 38 important works of art, some were displayed at Woodlands and others at his rooms at his town house at 100 Pall Mall. Many of Angerstein’s earlier purchases of pictures for his collection were by British artists. By 1804, Angerstein’s collection, at that stage consisting of only 25 paintings, was said to be the best and most celebrated collection in Great Britain.  Join Hazel as she gets to know John Julius Angerstein, the man behind the National Gallery.  Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we try. This London history podcast is where we can get down and dirty with the detail! You're not going to find this level of detail in any guidebook. Let us know if there's a particular person, event or place you want to know more about in our podcast. Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Show notes, including transcript, photos and recommended reading: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast/john-julius-angerstein/