Raphael, Turner and Vermeer

The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square contains one of the world's great collections of paintings -- in this case all by European artists. We spent an enjoyable day there on the 13th of November -- giving our tired feet a break while eating lunch in the gallery's very nice restaurant.

The collection is organized chronologically, with geographic grouping within that scheme. The earliest period represented is 1250 to 1500. We spent the bulk of our time in the 1500 to 1600 period (Michelangelo and Leonardo ("Virgin on the Rocks"), Titian and others) and in 1600 to 1700 (Vermeer and the Delft school, Rubens, Rembrandt, etc.). Toward the end of the day, as our stamina was running out, we spent a short while in the 1700 to 1900 area where one of the highlights is Van Gogh's "Sunflowers".

This is one of the places that will need follow-on visits -- there's just more than can be appreciated in one visit or even two or three.