Works from London's National Gallery hit Britain's streets, "Lifting morale in dark times"

In London, the works of the National Gallery are leaving the museum and going ... on the streets, on posters along the streets of major British cities. It is the idea of the London museum to spread culture during the coronavirus and to give a sign of closeness to people: in fact, museums, in the United Kingdom, are still closed due to the measures to contain the Covid-19 contagion, and so, in order not to make the public miss the masterpieces (but also to reach new audiences), the National Gallery has started a collaboration with the company Ocean Outdoor, which produces outdoor digital screens and has made several of them available, and has taken the works to the streets of some cities. In addition to London, National Gallery paintings are coming to Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Southampton.

The paintings chosen are seven of the National Gallery’s most iconic: Vincent van Gogh ’s Sunflowers (1888), Wheatfield with Cypresses also by Van Gogh (1889), Claude Monet ’s Water Lilies (1899), Jan van Eyck’s Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Arnolfini (1434), Georges Seurat ’s Bathers of Asnières (1884), Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun’sSelf-Portrait with Straw Hat (1782), and Surprise! by Henri Rousseau (1891).

“We hope the paintings will represent a pleasing sight for frontline workers, for those beginning to return to the workplace, and for people doing their daily physical activity,” they say from the National Gallery in a note. “The emotional and mental health benefits of art have long been recognized, and through Ocean’s network of screens, the National Gallery hopes that sharing some of the nation’s best paintings on digital screens will be a positive force for the nation’s well-being.”

“Our role today, more important than at any other time,” says National Gallery Director Gabriele Finaldi, “is to provide access to some of the world’s best works to give people inspiration and delight in these difficult times. So, we are very grateful for this generous gesture from Ocean Outdoor that allows us to take the National Gallery to the nation’s streets and reach many more people.”

“This partnership with the National Gallery,” says Ocean Outdoor’s Chris Standish, "makes our Art of Outdoor project a reality. After such a difficult time, I can’t think of a better way to lift the spirits of people who trade lockdown for the joy of frequenting outdoor spaces."

In the images, some of the posters hanging in the streets of the United Kingdom.

Van Gogh, Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun and Rousseau in Holland Park (London)

Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun in Manchester

Van Gogh in Glasgow

Works from London's National Gallery hit Britain's streets, "Lifting morale in dark times"

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