Keepers

About the role

The post of Keeper was established in 1824, on the foundation of the National Gallery. Initially, the Keeper was responsible for all routine administrative and supervisory matters at the Gallery.

By the 1960s, a specialised staff had developed to carry out most of the administrative duties, the Keeper was thus free to develop a curatorial role, devoted to the study and care of the collection.

Keepers of the Gallery (1824 – present)

• William Seguier (1772–1843)
  Served: 1824–1843 (19 years, died in post)
• Sir Charles Lock Eastlake (1793–1865)
  Served: 1843–1847 (4 years)
• Thomas Uwins RA (1782–1857)
  Served: 1847–1855 (8 years)
• Ralph Nicholson Wornum (1812–1877)
  Served: 1855–1877 (22 years, died in post)
• Mr Charles Locke Eastlake (1836–1906)
  Served: 1878-1898 (20 years)
• Hawes Harison Turner (1851–1939)
  Served: 1898-1914 (16 years)
• Charles Henry Collins Baker (1880–1959)
  Served: 1914–1934 (20 years)
• Edwin Glasgow (1874–1955)
  Served: 1934–1936 (2 years)
• Harold Isherwood Kay (1893–1938)
  Served: 1936-1938 (2 years, died in post)
• William Pettigrew Gibson (1902–1960)
  Served: 1939–1960 (21 years, died in post)
• Sir Martin Davies (1908–1975)
  Served: 1960–1967 (7 years)
• Sir Michael Vincent Levey MVO (1927 – 2008)
  Served: 1967–1973 (6 years)
• Cecil Hilton Monk Gould (1918–1994)
  Served: 1973–1978 (5 years)
• Allan John Witney Braham (1937–2011)
  Served: 1978–1989 (11 years)
• Nicholas Penny (1949–)
  Served: 1998-2002 (4 years)
• Larry Keith (1960–)
  2013 – present