On this chilly, sunny Christmas Eve, I reckoned that what with last minute shopping and the exodus of locals this would be a great moment to spend more time with that grandest old man, Rembrandt.
I checked that the underground and buses would still be running when I left the museum to come home. I reckoned that the NG would probably close early--say 4 or 5 pm. It was only fair to give staff time to get wherever they were going to spend the night before Christmas. All looked good and off I went.
I got out of the Underground, crossed Trafalgar Square, climbed the steps and headed for the Sainsbury Wing. And then I saw it: All gates shut. The place looked like a fortress not a house of revelations, never mind a refuge.
Back at my desk (each to her own Christmas treats or tortures), I Googled. The National Gallery chose to close all day, every day, from Christmas Eve until December 27. Take that all of you who would rather spend time with Rembrandt or Piero or Holbein or.... than do last minute shopping or join the stampede at the sales.
Nick Penny has marked his last Christmas as Director of the National Gallery with a big Bah Humbug, shutting its doors for a preposterous three days straight. He and those other Scrooges, the Trustees should be ashamed. My Christmas wish to one and all of them is coal filled stockings on the morning of the 25th.
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