The National Gallery Archive holds the administrative records of the National Gallery,
including: Board minutes, 19th century correspondence, annual reports, 20th century
registry files, late 20th century departmental records, accounts, art historical dossiers,
photographs and press cuttings.
The National Gallery houses the national collection of Western European painting from
the 13th to the early 20th century. The Gallery's aim is to care for the collection,
to enhance it for future generations, primarily by acquisition, and to study it, while
encouraging access to the pictures for the education and enjoyment of the widest possible
public now and in the future.
The Gallery was established in 1824 when the Government purchased the picture collection
of the late banker, John Julius Angerstein. The collection of 38 paintings was placed
on public display at Angerstein’s house in Pall Mall. The Gallery was managed by the
Keeper, William Seguier, who reported to a 'Committee of six gentlemen'. Both the
Keeper and the Committee (which later evolved into the Board of Trustees) were appointed
by the Treasury but their exact responsibilities were left undefined. Dissatisfaction
with this situation and public criticism of the Gallery’s management led to the appointment
of a Select Committee of the House of Commons in 1853. Its report resulted in the
reform of the Gallery’s administration as defined in a Treasury Minute of 27 March
1855. The minute created a new post of Director with wide powers to acquire paintings
for the collection. The Director was assisted by a Keeper who managed the day-to-day
affairs of the Gallery. The Board of Trustees was retained ‘to keep up a connexion
between cultivated lovers of art and the institution, and to form an indirect channel
of communication [with] the Government.’ The reforms improved the administration of
the Gallery and, from this time on, annual reports were presented to the Treasury
detailing the management of the Gallery and Collection, including pictures purchased
and cleaned or repaired. This system of governance continued until 1894 when the balance
of power shifted in favour of the Board of Trustees following the so-called Rosebery
Minute that altered the Gallery’s constitution. This did not affect the two acts of
parliament passed during the 19th century that specifically related to the Gallery
and concerned de-accessioning and loans: the National Gallery Act 1856 and the National
Gallery (Loan) Act 1883.
In 1897 the National Gallery assumed responsibility for the newly opened Tate Gallery.
In the years that followed the division of the national collection between the two
galleries was vigorously debated and led to a committee of inquiry headed by Lord
Curzon. The ensuing Curzon Report of 1915 recommended that the Tate should house the
collection of British and modern foreign art while the National Gallery should retain
the collection of Old Master paintings. The Tate became partially independent from
the National Gallery in 1917 when it acquired its own Board of Trustees; however,
it was not until 1955 and the implementation of the National Gallery and Tate Gallery
Act 1954 that the Tate became fully independent. The post-war period also saw an increase
in the range of activities carried out by the Gallery and a growing professionalisation
of those activities. In the late 1980s responsibility for managing the buildings was
transferred to the Gallery and it acquired the freehold of the site in 1992. In the
second half of the 20th century the Gallery developed a range of specialised departments:
Conservation, Scientific, Curatorial, Framing, Education, Photographic, Library and
Archive, Art Handling, Audio-Visual, Development, Finance, Human Resources, Buildings,
Design, Digital Media, Marketing, Exhibitions, Information, Information Systems, Press,
Registrars, Visitor Services and Security. The governance of the Gallery was further
changed by the Museums and Galleries Act 1992 which incorporated the Board of Trustees
and provides the current constitution of the National Gallery.
The archives of the National Gallery have always been retained by the Gallery.
Fonds level description by Alan Crookham, Archivist.
The records are generally arranged into broad series according to their original provenance
where known. More details about the system of arrangement are given at each series
level description.
The National Gallery Archive is open to the public by appointment.
Copyright status is indicated at series level where known.
Online catalogue at www.nationalgallery.org.uk/research/research-centre/archive/search.
A paper list is also available at the National Gallery Archive.
Kenneth Clark Archive, Tate Archives.
Suzanne Bosman, The National Gallery in Wartime. London 2008 Alan Crookham, The National
Gallery. An illustrated history. London 2009 Charles Saumarez Smith, The National
Gallery. A short history. London 2009.
