Now we have to read the text about The National Gallery and do the task after it.
National Gallery, founded in 1824, houses a rich collection of over
2,300 paintings dating from the mid13th century to the early 20 th
centuries. The collection belongs to the British public and entry to the main
collection is free, although there are charges for entry to special exhibitions.
The
National Gallery is open to the public 361 days a year.
The National Gallery, London is an art gallery which has one of the finest
collections of European paintings in the world. The National Gallery has many
paintings of very high quality and also because it has paintings by famous
artists
whose works are very rare. These rare paintings include works
by Duccio , Masaccio , Leonardo , Giorgione , Michelangelo , Caravaggio .
The National Gallery is on Trafalgar Square , which is one of the busiest
tourist placesin London. It is a grand building of pale grey limestone, with a
central dome and alarge Classical style porch like an Ancient Greek temple. To
the left side, the galleryhas a large new building called The Sainsbury Wing.
In 1823 a collector called Sir George Beaumont offered to give his famous
collection of paintings to the British Government to start a public art gallery. In
1824another famous collection of paintings was on sale. The owner, John Julius
Angerstein,had died. The Parliament had to make a quick decision.
The Parliament voted that a national collection should be started and a gallery
shouldbe built. They gave 60,000 Pounds Sterling to buy the Angerstein paintings.
They got38 pictures and were able to display them publicly in the Angerstein
House.
The collection grew quickly with the Beaumont and Holwell Carr paintings, and
others, being bought or given. A new gallery was needed. In 1831 the plans of
the
architect William Wilkins were accepted. The site which looks over Trafalgar
Square was chosen, old buildings were demolished and the magnificent new
gallery was
opened on April 9, 1838.
Choose the correct answer:
1.The collection belongs to the …….
a) English Queen; b) British public ;c) Lords.
2. The price of entry to the main collection is …….
a) high; b) free; c) free for foreigners.
3. The National Gallery is famous for its ….
a) situation;
b) paintings of very high quality;
c) paintings of very high quality and very rare paintings.
4. National Gallery is situated on …..
a) Big Ben; b) Trafalgar Square ; c) Downing Street.
5.The National Gallery is ……….
a) a grand building of pale grey limestone;
b) a grand building of black limestone;
c) a grand building of pale grey iron.
6. A grand building of National Gallery like …..
a) an Ancient Greek temple;
b) an Ancient Greek castle;
c) an Ancient Rome temple.
7. To the left side, the gallery has …..
a) a large old building called The Sainsbury Wing;
b) a large new building called The Sainsbury Wing;
c) a large new building called The Sainsbury Wind.
8. The Parliament gave 60,000 Pounds Sterling ….
a) to buy the Angerstein paintings;
b) to show the Angerstein paintings;
c) to buy the Morland paintings.
9. 38 pictures were ……
a) displayed publicly in the Angerstein House;
b) sold publicly in the Angerstein House
