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Tate Britain or National Gallery Which One?

Tate Britain or National Gallery Which One?

Old Apr 30th, 2010, 10:22 AM
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Tate Britain or National Gallery Which One?

Of course, I want to see and do everything and just can't possibly accomplish that in one trip so which is more fascinating for a first timer to London to see?

Tate Britain focuses on British Art--Turner mostly and other famous British artists. National Gallery has a wider selection from different genres. Which would you choose?

Has anyone taken the London Walks National Gallery tour? Is it informative and fun? Should I just get the audio tape at the museum? Not the same thing as a live presentation though.
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Old Apr 30th, 2010, 10:36 AM
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The National.

It has the lot. All the "trophy" paintings are in there. Its also in Trafalgar Square so is very handy for other tourist stuff.

The two Tates are great too. But if you can only go to one.....No brainer.
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Old Apr 30th, 2010, 10:41 AM
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Agree with CW and The National Portrait Gallery is right behind it ans can be combined
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Old Apr 30th, 2010, 11:47 AM
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Agreed. The Tate is certainly a good museum, but if it turns out that you don't care too much for Turner (as I don't), it means you're not interested in a large part of the museum. The National Gallery has more variety and is more conveniently located. And as avalon mentioned, the Portrait Gallery is also right there; that's actually my favorite of the three.
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Old Apr 30th, 2010, 11:53 AM
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Definitely the National Gallery, which I consider one of London's must-sees. As much as I like Turner, tne National has much more to offer and, as jent103 said, it is certainly more accessible.
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Old Apr 30th, 2010, 05:13 PM
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Turner is one of my very favorite artists of any era, and I really enjoy the rest of the Tate's collection, - and I REALLY like the Tate's restaurant.

But even so -- for a first timer, I'd definitely recommend The National Gallery. Then pop around the corner to the National Portrait Gallery too -- and try to have a meal in the Portrait Restaurant on the top floor of the Portrait Gallery.
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Old Apr 30th, 2010, 05:19 PM
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'Trophy' paintings, I love that term! I'd suggest The National Gallery for the first time, there is such a variety to see.
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Old Apr 30th, 2010, 09:55 PM
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This absolutely has to be a no-brainer.

The National is one of the world's (at most) half dozen best repositories of Western art. Tate Britain is the world's second best repository of British art.

We lead the world in many things - from Nobel prizes per head to teenage pregnancies. Painting absolutely isn't one of them. A museum of British painting isn't quite in the same league as one of German humour or Italian war heroes. But it's not far short.
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Old May 1st, 2010, 01:55 AM
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The National also isn't THAT big. Certainly when compared to the Louvre, Hermitage etc. So it's manageable in a half day.

But you know how it is. Seen one Da Vinci, seen 'em all.
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Old May 1st, 2010, 04:20 AM
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Another vote for the National Gallery. We made some notes from a walking tour from one of our guidebooks that helped out with seeing highlights of the gallery. We felt we did just fine without paying for a tour. I also would vote on popping in on the National Picture Gallery...you don't have to spend a lot of time there, but it is interesting in it's own right and worthy of a look.
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Old May 1st, 2010, 07:21 AM
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Thanks everyone for your opinions. Looks like it will be the National Gallery for us--at least for our first visit!
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Old May 2nd, 2010, 02:48 AM
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As people have said, remember the National Portrait Gallery is just behind it which, as well as some great pictures, has a truly great cafe/restaurant in it.

Also you are next To St Martins in The Fields church which has a cafe/restaurant underneath it - very good.

http://www2.stmartin-in-the-fields.o...2010/cafe.html
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Old May 2nd, 2010, 03:09 AM
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Looks like european novice has already been persuaded to the National, but my answer in case anybody else picks up this thread would be:

If you have to ask? Neither.

The National PORTRAIT Gallery in London is a unique British institution that has no equal, as far as I am aware, to any other museum in the US, or on the planet for that matter. It not only provides a visitor with a very enjoyable lesson in British history, it is also quite an education in the history of portrait painting, and offers many insights into British culture. I'm not as wild about the food in the cafe as others, and I think the view is overrated, but I think spending time in the National PORTRAIT Gallery is time well spent for those wishing not merely to "sight-see" but to get a grip on what makes Britain Britain.

The US has quite a number of museums the equal of both the National and Tate (especially if one is not a student of Turner). Unless you are a real art museum-lover or a serious student of painting, I would suggesting skipping art museum going as part traveling abroad, despite what the guidebooks consider "must-sees." They great museums, but unless you enjoy spending your free time that way, they are not going to offer you anything you can't get more easily and cheaply at home.
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Old May 2nd, 2010, 03:22 AM
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The US has quite a number of museums the equal of both the National and Tate>>>

My arse.
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Old May 2nd, 2010, 03:28 AM
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Your arse, then, because indeed it does. And all over the USA.

New York, Washington, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles have art museums and exhibitions that fully match what is at both the National and the Tate, and certainly most people -- unless they are lifelong students of art -- are not going feel a lack of anything visiting a major US museum (and even some of the "smaller" ones in Dallas, Cleveland, Kansas City and elsewhere.)
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Old May 2nd, 2010, 03:33 AM
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Not that Virgin Vacations is an authority on anything, but if you look at this list, you'll neither the National nor Tate Britain makes it on their list of 15 top museums in the world (although the British Museum is #13), while it lists 7 American museums. (I realize Virgin is marketing vacations primarily to Britis, but still...)

http://www.virgin-vacations.com/16-t...the-world.aspx

Anyway, it reminds me I left out Philadelphia in my list above.
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Old May 2nd, 2010, 03:40 AM
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New York, Washington, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles have art museums and exhibitions that fully match what is at both the National and the Tate,>>>>>

Do they buggery.

America has men in stetsons, many many cows and food full of sugar.

That's it.

You want your culcha - come to the home of it.

A few second rate daubs do not a gallery make. Trust me. You've got some throw-aways with nice signatures. The real thing is here )or France, Italy, Spain etc). We even have the greatest Rothkos for God's sake.
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Old May 2nd, 2010, 06:08 AM
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I must apologize...I called the National PORTRAIT Gallery the National Picture Gallery in my post. i knew better...I don't know why I called it that, and in fact didn't realize it until I saw the post afterwards recommending the restaurant there. It was an honest mistake. I loved the National PORTRAIT Gallery and was glad that I had made time to go there. I also enjoyed the National Gallery but I probably would not have taken a tour there. We spent more time at the National PORTRAIT Gallery. I am no art expert....just a simple tourist who loved London and the "culcha". Again, my sincere apologies for offending others.
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Old May 2nd, 2010, 07:36 AM
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Funny! I didn't even notice it! I capitalized PORTRAIT only because I wanted to emphasize my recommendation. I'm so glad you saw the PORTRAT gallery. It's unique -- and has great paintings in it, especially if you are interested in the history of British art.

C-W,

I dare say I've spent more time in both London art museums and American art museums than you have (cheeky, huh?) and those men in stetsons had the money to buy an awful lot of great painting in the 20th c. when it was no longer possible possible to loot to build a collection. France and Spain have superior to art museums to America, but not London. I will hand you one thing -- London has had some brilliant curators, most especially the National. But buying power? An awful lot of world class art held in private hands from its creation went on the block in the 20th c. but Britain -- both the public purse and the individuals -- couldn't afford it thus didn't snatch up as much as the Americans and later the Japanese. And I expect us art lovers will end up having to go to China in the very near future.

I'm not a fan of Rothko, but still, I'm dubious. The Rothko Chapel, worshipped at by the men in stetsons? You'll never get your hands on that. Anyway, if Rothko's the best you can come up with, you can keep 'em!

But I'm going to stick to my recommendation for the National Portrait Gallery for any visitor going to London wondering which painting museum they might enjoy. The art students don't even ask that question. They already know which paintings they want to see and where they are, and they will not only heading to the National AND Tate Britain, but to several other museums as well.

I'll also toss in that both the National and Tate Britain have robust lending policies, so if you're afraid of missing something that you might never get a chance to see again once you leave London, other smaller museums seldom let their important paintings travel. Not so the biggies that put on blockbusters which require borrowing a lot of paintings, many from America. They have to reciprocate.
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Old May 2nd, 2010, 07:59 AM
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CW writes:
America has men in stetsons, many many cows and food full of sugar.

That's it.
_______________
This wise and considered opinions is also reflected in your knowledge of art and artists.

I always thought the tortued imagery of Farncis Bacon, the Irish artist of British descent, and Lucien Freud were works of the imgaination but now I realize that they are but represenational portraits of the British soul.
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