Sunday 23 December 2018

Sunday Snap – The Art Space

We were in the West End of London for last week's Sunday Snap of the musical. I asked the name of the long running show and the answer is

Les Misérables

Waving the flag with the right answer were Kara, Lisa, Anne, Jeanna and Jesh.

This week we are still in London with my non-Christmassy Christmas scene. This is Trafalgar Square where a huge Norwegian Christmas tree is installed each year but we are focusing on the building behind it.

In 1824 the British Government bought a selection of paintings from the estate of John Julius Angerstein, a London insurance underwriter, businessman and avid collector of fine art. Dismayed at the thought of his fine collection being broken up the Government paid £60,000 for 38 of some his finest paintings in his collection. With no place to display them the paintings at first kept and put on show at Angerstein's house in Pall Mall. This building was never suitable to house the collection and have members of the public coming in to view them. Instead a site at the back of a the new development to be known as Trafalgar Square was found. As the art collection was designed for all members and classes of society to come and view this site was in midway between the wealthy West End and poorer East End of London. Today, the main collections are free for the public to come and view.

Over the years the art collection grew and grew and with it the building itself. One of the most controversial additions was the construction of the Sainsbury Wing in 1991. Prince Charles described it as a, “monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend.” In May this year it was designated Grade I listed building status. This week's question is

What museum does the building house?

We were joined last week by Susan and a nativity performance. Sara's favourite things this week include a red hibiscus, a frosty roadside and watching the trains go by. Santa was spotted by Jo at his beach house. There's been Christmas hugs and pantomine thrills for Kara. Lisa has been pelican spotting. In search of some Christmas spirit was Anne. In Wisconsin there's been mega hay bales. On her travels around New Zealand Betty has been spotting things. Finally, Jesh has been getting seasonal in Holland.

If you want to join in with this week's Sunday Snap then add your link to the linky below. Any theme is allowed. It doesn't have to be published today as you have until 23.55 on Friday 28th December 2018 to join in. Grab my badge below for your blog post. Just make sure it is your photo and you hold the copyright for it.

Sunday Snap

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7 comments:

  1. I’m not sure what this is hosted, but it is such a pretty building x

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  2. I think its the National Gallery

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  3. I can copy other's answers, but if I'd have been first I honestly would not have known. Thanks for hosting and Merry Christmas x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow what time was this taken? I've never seen it so quiet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was during the week when we went at October half term. I took it just before 5pm to get it lit but not too dark.

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  5. Hi! It's theNational Gallery. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete

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