National Gallery
London's National Gallery , founded in 1824, its elegant dome and graceful colonnades,dominating the north side of Trafalgar Square, houses a rich collection of over 2,300 paintings from 1250 to 1900.The collection, which is especially noted for its holdings of works from the High Renaissance and Impressionist ages, belongs to the British public: entry to the main collection is free, although there are charges for entry to special exhibitions.The National Gallery has grown to be a collection of international renown, despite having been founded without an existing royal collection on which to build. It was shaped mainly by its early directors, notably Sir Charles Lock Eastlake, and by private donations, which comprise two thirds of the collection.