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How did London's National Gallery protect its paintings during WWII?

During the Second World War, National Gallery paintings were stored in a Welsh quarry while staff monitored their condition and continued scholarly work. From 1942, a Picture of the Month returned a single painting to London for public viewing. Protecting a collection and keeping it accessible required different arrangements.

5–7 min

Questions you could explore

  • How could a gallery remain active when most paintings were elsewhere?
  • What did the National Gallery's wartime activities offer besides access to its usual collection?

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