By Imogen
The Tate Britain and the National Gallery are two of London’s most significant art galleries. With the Tate focusing on contemporary art, and the national gallery holding more historic pieces from 1250-1900.
Founded in 1824, the National Gallery is an art museum found in Westminster, Central London. The Gallery is currently directed by Gabriele Finaldi, who runs the gallery as a charity, meaning that it is open to the public free of charge. By democratizing iconic and celebrated pieces, the National Gallery presents itself as a landmark for accessible and public art in the UK. The gallery houses a comprehensive collection of paintings varying in movement and style from across the globe.
One of the movements currently being shown in exhibition is neo-impressionism. Neo-impressionism is the name given to the art created post the impressionism movement. It began in the late 19th century, led by artists such as Georges Seurat and Paul Signac. Key features of the art created during this period feature tiny dots or strokes of colour (such as pointilism), in order to create a vibrant and almost shimmering effect across the canvas. The movement moves on from the more spontaneous style of impressionism to create a more modern and structured composition.
Neo-impressionism is also characterised by its more scientific approach to art. Two key colour theorists Chevreul and Rood developed the movement through their personal findings. This blend of STEM and creativity aimed to bring scientific order to fleeting and flowing effects of impressionism. As of now, the national gallery has become a hotspot for 19th century art as they open the “world’s most significant collection” of Neo-Impressionist artwork. The exhibition is open in the Sainsbury Wing of the gallery, and can be found there until the 8th of February 2026.
Only ten minutes away, the Tate Britain lies on Millbank in Westminster. It was founded in 1897 by Sir Henry Tate and was originally named the National Gallery of British art until 1932 when it became known as the Tate Gallery, and then later as the Tate Britain (after the Tate Modern was built). Today there are four main Tate Museums, but the Tate Britain continues to hold the largest collection of British Artwork. It holds art ranging from Tudor times to the modern day. Yet the he most famous collections in the Tate are the works by J.M.W Turner, who critics award the title of ‘Britain’s best artist’, even 250 years on from his death. Turner was a romantic painter , printmaker and watercolourist who is known best for his expressive and imaginative paintings in the 18th century. Most of his paintings featured dramatic lighting and almost violent coastal landscapes, which are all key features of the romantic movement.
Romanticism is renowned for its expressive, dramatic landscapes and a developing focus on the sublime. The movement first arose as a reaction to the scientific rationalism of the enlightenment and the industrial revolution that was developing in Europe. These artists chose to place emphasis on nature, individualism, and authentic experiences. Many characterise the romantic movement by the “5 I’s”: Imagination, intuition, idealism, inspiration, and individuality. Together these ideas present a dream-like and ethereal quality.
Having visited this exhibition at the Tate Britain, I would claim it as the highlight of my trip. However, I would recommend all of the galleries to anyone who wants to experience a variety of art styles and mediums.
In short, if you enjoy a wide variety of British artwork, ranging from modern sculptures to Tudor portraits, then ostensibly the Tate may be for you. However, if you are interested in a broad range of international paintings from 1250-1900, then you should visit The National Gallery. Though both offer uniquely curated collections that would interest any viewer.