C C land: The Wonder Of Art

The National Gallery is undertaking a major redisplay of its collection, today announced as C C Land: The Wonder of Art. 

'C C Land: The Wonder of Art' will display over 1,000 works as part of the Gallery’s free offering at Trafalgar Square, including the most renowned and beloved works collected for the nation over the last 200 years, which will hang alongside new loans of works by Andrea Mantegna, Anthony van Dyck, William Hogarth and Vincent van Gogh and acquisitions by Nicolas Poussin, Eva Gonzalèz, Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas and a few surprises still to come.

Visitors can see the completed redisplay from 10 May 2025, to coincide with the opening to the public of the transformed Sainsbury Wing after more than two years of building works, reshaping the National Gallery for its third century and the next generation of visitors.

'The Wonder of Art' will follow a broadly chronological arrangement, with medieval and Renaissance pictures displayed in the Sainsbury Wing and later paintings in the Wilkins Building. It will include a range of more thematic interventions, such as ‘The Spectacle of Portraiture’, ‘Flowers’ and ‘Still Life’. Some newly restored works will be shown for the first time in several years, including the Pollaiuolo brothers’ The Martyrdom of San Sebastian and Jan van Eyck’s Portrait of a Man (Self Portrait?).

A series of rooms will feature the work of individual artists, marking the first time the Gallery’s works by Titian and Claude Monet will each be brought together. Other artists in focus include Peter Paul Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt and Thomas Gainsborough. One new display focusses on Charles I (1600‒1649) as a collector and includes major loans from the Royal Collection.

We will reveal more about the making and meaning of art, including the importance of gold from 1260-1550; the use of the oil sketch to record nature; and the impact of pastel as a new medium.

'C C Land: The Wonder of Art' will also show anew how artists were inspired by those working before them. Specific pairings celebrating ‘artists looking at artists’ will include Vigée Le Brun’s Self Portrait in a Straw Hat, inspired by Rubens’s Portrait of Susanna Lunden(?) (‘Le Chapeau de Paille’), as well as Rembrandt’s Self Portrait at the Age of 34 , which is modelled on Titian’s Portrait of Gerolamo(?) Barbarigo.

The Gallery has drawn on years of research about our audiences, the type of stories they find most engaging and how they prefer to access them. This informs our new layered approach to the interpretation, which sets the collection in context, explores key themes and artists and integrates print with digital information.  

Visitors are able to access information about the collection in multiple ways: from printed panels and labels on the walls, by scanning paintings with their smart phones for more in-depth digital content, to listening to a range of voices speaking from different perspectives in our new audio guide. We have also significantly enhanced our free interpretation offer for visitors with a range of access requirements. 

The rehang is already in progress with some rooms being closed between now and May 2025 to facilitate the moving of paintings and refurbishment of the galleries. This will be carried out in stages to ensure the Gallery can keep as many rooms open to the public for as much time as possible.

Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, said: 'C C Land: The Wonder of Art has been in the making at the National Gallery for several years. Our Bicentenary provides the perfect opportunity to consider a new way to tell the story of the incredible paintings in our collection, and include some exciting surprises.'

Christine Riding, Director of Collections and Research, said: 'This is the first time in over 30 years that we have had such an exciting opportunity to rethink, and refresh, how we present one of the greatest art collections in the world, under one roof. Our visitors will discover anew some of the most famous and iconic works of art ever created, alongside personal favourites and recent discoveries and acquisitions.'

Dr Peter Lam, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of C C Land, said: 'The National Gallery's Bicentenary is a momentous occasion, and we at C C Land are delighted to be a part of it. 'C C Land: The Wonder of Art' will not only transform the visitor experience but also leave a lasting legacy for years to come. We believe in the power of art and are confident this redisplay will inspire and engage audiences for generations, aligning with our own long-term vision for sustainable growth and community impact.'

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About the National Gallery

The National Gallery is one of the greatest art galleries in the world. Founded by Parliament in 1824, the Gallery houses the nation’s collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the late 13th to the early 20th century. The collection includes works by Artemisia Gentileschi, Bellini, Cezanne, Degas, Leonardo, Monet, Raphael, Rembrandt, Renoir, Rubens, Titian, Turner, Van Dyck, Van Gogh and Velázquez. The Gallery’s key objectives are to care for and enhance the collection and provide the best possible access to visitors. Admission free. 
 
On 10 May 2024 the National Gallery reached its 200th birthday, and the start of our Bicentenary celebration, a year-long festival of art, creativity and imagination, marking two centuries of bringing people and paintings together. 

More information at nationalgallery.org.uk 

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About C C Land

Headquartered in Hong Kong, the core business of C C Land is property development and investment as well as treasury investments. The Group started to build its global property portfolio since early 2017, and now has both investment and development projects in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Chinese mainland. The Group’s business strategy is to have a balanced property portfolio with both stable recurring rental income and property sales revenue in developed cities worldwide.

Publicity images can be obtained from https://press.nationalgallery.org.uk/ 

For more information

National Gallery Press Office on 020 7747 2865 or email National Gallery Press Office press.external@nationalgallery.org.uk