Evacuated paintings.

Evacuation of the Paintings

On Wednesday 23 August 1939, the National Gallery closed its doors to the public, not knowing when they would open again. Inside the building the evacuation of the collection had already begun. The secret destination of most of the paintings was Wales, but 100 of the smaller pictures were to go to Gloucestershire. Initial storage had been found in a number of private houses and public buildings. The move was completed in only eleven days, the last shipment leaving Trafalgar Square on 2 September, the day before war was declared.

After the fall of France in May 1940, bombing became a threat even in Wales and the pictures were further dispersed. Their transport to Canada was considered but Churchill immediately vetoed the plan stating 'hide them in cellars or in caves, but not one picture shall leave this island'.

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