Sainsbury Wing reopens + Coronation Portraits on display

The unveiling of the two new Coronation Portraits

Two big events happened yesterday at the National Gallery in London.

• In the Central Hall the King and Queen unveiled the Coronation State Portraits, commissioned from the artists Peter Kuhfeld and Paul S. Benney. These portraits will remain on display at the National Galleryfor one month until 5 June, before they then move to the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace.
• the King officially "reopened" the Sainsbury Wing after the major £85m project to transform it over the last two years to marh the 200th anniversary of the National Gallery.

The new entrance to the National Gallery

Two Coronation Portraits

Yesterday was the second anniversary of Their Majesties’ Coronation. 

It's customary to commission portraits to mark the occasion and two years later - after a number of sittings, the two commissioned Coronation State Portraits of King Charles III and Queen Camilla were unveiled in the Central Hall at the National Gallery by Their Majesties.

You can see the Instagram version below or you can watch their entire visit to the National Gallery - including the unveiling on The Royal Monarchy Channel on YouTube - on Watch: King and Queen Unveil New Coronation Portraits at National Gallery London

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These portraits join an important tradition of Coronation State Portraits dating back many centuries and will in future form part of the Royal Collection.

The King and Queen with the two artists

The portraits were painted by two different artists personally selected by The King and Queen. Each selected artists they've known personally in connection with other royal commissions.

• The King chose to be painted by Peter Kuhfeld and 
• The Queen selected Paul S. Benney. 

I thought the Queen's portrait was very lifelike and at the same time very flattering - showing her in the best light as it were. Plus I loved the way he incorporated all the detail of the items sewn on to the dress and robes - including her two dogs sewn in gold along them hem of her dress!

Coronation Portrait of Queen Camilla
by Paul Benny

The Queen’s portrait includes 

• Queen Camilla’s Crown (formally known as Queen Mary’s Crown). This was originally created for the coronation of Queen Mary in 1911. 
• her Robe of Estate - worn during the latter part of The Coronation ceremony, as The King and Queen departed Westminster Abbey.
• her Coronation Dress - designed by Bruce Oldfield. This was maade of ivory coloured silk, It features silver and gold embroidered floral designs, representing Their Majesties’ affection for nature.

My guiding principles in this commission were to both acknowledge the grand and historic nature of The Coronation iconography with all the equipage of the Monarchy and at the same time reveal the humanity and empathy of such an extraordinary person taking on an extraordinary role.  Artist: Paul Benny

The King's portrait has not met with such approval from the press, possibly because Peter Kuefeld is an artist which paints in a softer style. Indeed, there is no full length image of the portrait on the Royal Family website - which seemed rather odd.

Alastair Sooke on The Telegraph was particularly critical The King’s Coronation state portrait is a right royal mess

The picture of the Queen is delightful, but Charles has been painted with a doddery touch

It does occur to me, that people are sometimes apt to forget that portraiture is somewhat unforegiving of artists getting older and no longer seeing or wielding a brush with the skill they might have done in the past.  I haven't seen either of them yet, but will be taking the opportunity to do so before commenting further. 

The new portraits will be on display for one month in the Central Room at the National Gallery, of which The King is Royal Patron, from Tuesday 6th May until Thursday 5th June

They will then move to their permanent home in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace. They will be able to be seen during the Summer Opening of the State Rooms (10th July – 28th September 2025).

The new Sainsbury Wing

The entrance to the Sainsbury Wing is now the new MAIN Entrance to the National Gallery.

The Sainsbury Wing has undergone changes to its external façade, foyer and mezzanine to address the problems associated with the original design which was less than helpful to a visitor's first experience of the gallery

The aim has ben to provide a better and more welcoming first experience to the National Gallery’s millions of annual visitors. It now boasts a brand new sign on its roof which signals that it is actually part of the National Gallery which it never did before.

It will reopen to the public on Saturday 10 May 2025.

As with the portraits, I prefer to see it for myself before commenting further as the press images are a complete abortion in terms of accessibility and I can't make any sense of them. 

The press have commented as follows

• ‘Tranquillising good taste’: can the National Gallery’s airy new entrance exorcise its demons? | The Guardian

It is “lighter, more welcoming, and more visible”, says gallery director Gabriele Finaldi, and more approachable for “anyone who thinks that the National Gallery is not for them”.