Product Information
On August 23, 1939, with World War II looming, the National Gallery, London, was forced temporarily to close its doors to the public to evacuate the bulk of its collection to secret locations in Wales for safe-keeping. By May 1940, the collection had been transferred to Manod Quarry, a slate mine in the mountains, beneath 200 feet of solid rock. The Gallery, meanwhile, remained ?open for business? despite being bombed several times during the Blitz. This enthralling and richly documented book recounts for the first time the story of how the National Gallery functioned during this eventful period. With extensive archival photographs, many of which are published here for the first time, alongside press accounts and Gallery correspondence, it discusses the preparations to move the pictures; the Gallery's decision to keep the building open for temporary exhibitions and lunchtime concerts fronted by internationally renowned pianist Myra Hess; director Kenneth Clark's role as chairman of the War Artists Advisory Committee, whose aim was to commission and exhibit pictures recording the war; and the institution of the Picture of the Month, which exhibited in succession 43 of the Gallery's best-known pictures during the war, and which continues today.Product Identifiers
PublisherNational Gallery Company LTD
ISBN-139781857094244
eBay Product ID (ePID)91396835
Product Key Features
Book TitleThe National Gallery in Wartime
AuthorSuzanne Bosman
FormatPaperback
LanguageEnglish
TopicRestoration
Publication Year2008
Dimensions
Item Height255mm
Item Width206mm
Additional Product Features
Title_AuthorSuzanne Bosman
Series TitleNational Gallery London Publications
Country/Region of ManufactureUnited Kingdom