Stories from the archive

Step beyond the paintings and discover the personal histories that have shaped the National Gallery. Delve into the archives with Nicholas Smith, our Research Centre Archivist. Drawing on letters, drawings and photographs, from the remarkable to the everyday, preserved in our archives, this session explores some intriguing episodes in the Gallery's eventful 200-year history. From wartime planning to a polar expedition, these filed-away stories offer unique insights into the lives of artists, staff and visitors.