The National Gallery in Wartime

OnAugust23，1939，withWorldWarIIlooming，theNationalGallery，London，wasforcedtemporarilytocloseitsdoorstothepublictoevacuatethebulkofitscollectiontosecretlocationsinWalesforsafe-keeping.ByMay1940，thecollectionhadbeentransferredtoManodQuarry，aslatemineinthemountains，beneath200feetofsolidrock.TheGallery，meanwhile，remained"openforbusiness"--despitebeingbombedseveraltimesduringtheBlitz.ThisenthrallingandrichlydocumentedbookrecountsforthefirsttimethestoryofhowtheNationalGalleryfunctionedduringthiseventfulperiod.Withextensivearchivalphotographs，manyofwhicharepublishedhereforthefirsttime，alongsidepressaccountsandGallerycorrespondence，itdiscussesthepreparationstomovethepictures;theGallery'sdecisiontokeepthebuildingopenfortemporaryexhibitionsandlunchtimeconcertsfrontedbyinternationallyrenownedpianistMyraHess;directorKennethClark'sroleaschairmanoftheWarArtistsAdvisoryCommittee，whoseaimwastocommissionandexhibitpicturesrecordingthewar;andtheinstitutionofthePictureoftheMonth，whichexhibitedinsuccession43oftheGallery'sbest-knownpicturesduringthewar，andwhichcontinuestoday.