The National Gallery A Short History Author:Charles Saumarez Smith Charles Saumarez Smith was the director of the National Gallery from 2002 to 2007, a period in which he oversaw the purchase of Raphael's The Madonna of the Pinks for a record £22 million, raised in part by his successful campaign for public contributions. His insider's perspective gives him invaluable insight into the challenges faced by... more » his predecessors as they managed the Gallery's collection from very modest origins to its status as a world-class institution and major tourist destination. This literate yet movingly personal book reveals the contentious issues that surround the way a national collection is acquired, preserved, restored, and displayed; the complex, competitive relationship between director, trustees, and government; architectural and aesthetic controversies; and the future of the Gallery in an increasingly uncertain and overly commercialized art marketplace.« less