National Gallery's Massive Art Redisplay
London's National Gallery is showcasing "C C Land: The Wonder of Art" through May 9, 2026, featuring over 1,000 works from the national collection alongside new loans from masters like Andrea Mantegna, Anthony van Dyck, and William Hogarth. This free exhibition at Trafalgar Square represents one of the most ambitious gallery presentations in the institution's history.
- This extensive rehang is the first complete redisplay of the National Gallery's collection in over three decades, coinciding with the institution's 200th anniversary. The last major rehang occurred when the Sainsbury Wing opened in 1991. - The project is part of the gallery's bicentenary program, known as NG200, a year-long celebration that began on May 10, 2024. The total cost for the NG200 program is approximately £95 million. - In addition to rearranging the permanent collection, the gallery is presenting eight new Bicentenary acquisitions and 20 new loans. Some notable acquisitions include works by Nicolas Poussin and Eva Gonzalèz. - The redisplay breaks from a strictly chronological presentation by introducing thematic galleries. For the first time, there are rooms dedicated to the genre of still life, the use of materials like gold, and single artists such as Titian, Claude Monet, and Rembrandt. - The project coincided with a two-year renovation of the Sainsbury Wing, which has been repurposed to serve as the gallery's main entrance. The architectural work, led by Selldorf Architects, aims to create a more welcoming and accessible visitor experience. - Several artworks are returning to public view after extensive, multi-year conservation efforts, including "The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian" by the Pollaiuolo brothers. - A new audio guide powered by Smartify has been launched to accompany the redisplay, featuring commentary from curators, staff, and special guests like Stephen Fry and HRH Princess Eugenie. - From June 2025, two halves of a canvas by Edouard Manet, "Corner of a Café-Concert" and "Au café," will be reunited for the first time in the gallery, thanks to a loan from the Oskar Reinhart Collection in Switzerland.
