Night at the museum: UK's National Gallery offering guest sleepover / Photo: Tolga Akmen - AFP
-
Record January window for transfers despite drop in spending
-
'Burned inside their houses': Nigerians recount horror of massacre
-
Iran, US prepare for Oman talks after deadly protest crackdown
-
Winter Olympics opening ceremony nears as virus disrupts ice hockey
-
Mining giant Rio Tinto abandons Glencore merger bid
-
Davos forum opens probe into CEO Brende's Epstein links
-
ECB warns of stronger euro impact, holds rates
-
Famine spreading in Sudan's Darfur, warn UN-backed experts
-
Lights back on in eastern Cuba after widespread blackout
-
Russia, US agree to resume military contacts at Ukraine talks
-
Greece aims to cut queues at ancient sites with new portal
-
No time frame to get Palmer in 'perfect' shape - Rosenior
-
Stocks fall as tech valuation fears stoke volatility
-
US Olympic body backs LA28 leadership amid Wasserman scandal
-
Gnabry extends Bayern Munich deal until 2028
-
England captain Stokes suffers facial injury after being hit by ball
-
Italy captain Lamaro amongst trio set for 50th caps against Scotland
-
Piastri plays down McLaren rivalry with champion Norris
-
ECB holds interest rates as strong euro causes jitters
-
EU close to sealing trade deal with Australia
-
German Cup final to stay in Berlin until 2030
-
What does Iran want from talks with the US?
-
Taming the lion: Olympians take on Bormio's terrifying Stelvio piste
-
Wind turbine maker Vestas sees record revenue in 2025
-
Italy's Casse tops second Olympic downhill training
-
Anti-doping boss 'uncomfortable' with Valieva's coach at Olympics
-
Bitcoin under $70,000 for first time since Trump's election
-
'I am sorry,' embattled UK PM tells Epstein victims
-
England's Brook predicts record 300-plus scores at T20 World Cup
-
Ukraine, Russia swap prisoners, US says 'work remains' to end war
-
Wales' Rees-Zammit at full-back for Six Nations return against England
-
Sad horses and Draco Malfoy: China's unexpected Lunar New Year trends
-
Hong Kong students dissolve pro-democracy group under 'severe' pressure
-
Germany claws back 59 mn euros from Amazon over price controls
-
Germany claws back 70 mn euros from Amazon over price controls
-
VW and Stellantis urge help to keep carmaking in Europe
-
Stock markets drop amid tech concerns before rate calls
-
BBVA posts record profit after failed Sabadell takeover
-
UN human rights agency in 'survival mode': chief
-
Greenpeace slams fossil fuel sponsors for Winter Olympics
-
Greenpeace slams fossel fuel sponsors for Winter Olympics
-
Kinghorn, Van der Merwe dropped by Scotland for Six Nations opener
-
Russia says thwarted smuggling of giant meteorite to UK
-
Salt war heats up in ice-glazed Berlin
-
Liverpool in 'good place' for years to come, says Slot
-
Heathrow still Europe's busiest airport, but Istanbul gaining fast
-
Highest storm alert lifted in Spain, one woman missing
-
Shell profits climb despite falling oil prices
-
Pakistan will seek govt nod in potential India T20 finals clash
-
German factory orders rise at fastest rate in 2 years in December
NYSE - LSE
| SCS | 0.12% | 16.14 | $ | |
| CMSC | 0.25% | 23.58 | $ | |
| CMSD | 0.21% | 23.92 | $ | |
| GSK | 3.52% | 59.315 | $ | |
| BTI | 0.38% | 61.865 | $ | |
| RIO | -4.44% | 92.38 | $ | |
| RBGPF | 0.12% | 82.5 | $ | |
| NGG | -0.57% | 87.29 | $ | |
| BCC | -1.34% | 89.035 | $ | |
| BCE | -3.86% | 25.36 | $ | |
| BP | -2.52% | 38.235 | $ | |
| RYCEF | -0.36% | 16.62 | $ | |
| VOD | -6.76% | 14.715 | $ | |
| AZN | 1.02% | 189.375 | $ | |
| RELX | 2.17% | 30.44 | $ | |
| JRI | 0.45% | 13.21 | $ |
Night at the museum: UK's National Gallery offering guest sleepover
A lucky visitor will soon become the first ever to sleep overnight at Britain's National Gallery, after the 200-year-old museum launched a competition on Monday to mark the reopening of a wing housing celebrated European paintings.
When the Sainsbury Wing reopens after a two-year refurbishment on May 10, the overnight guest -- to be picked at random from a list of newsletter subscribers -- will wake up to breakfast in bed and the chance to explore the gallery before the crowds arrive.
The renovated wing will see some of earliest paintings in the collection rehoused -- a chapel-like room for Piero della Francesca's 15th-century "Baptism of Christ" and a new frame for Jacopo di Cione's 14th-century "San Pier Maggiore Altarpiece" -- while Paolo Uccello's "Battle Of San Romano" will be back after a three-year restoration process.
Western European paintings from the 13th to 20th centuries will be "completely redisplayed", the museum said, with dedicated rooms for works by artists including Monet, Titian, Rembrandt and Gainsborough.
- 'Wonder of art' -
The guest will spend the night in a bed near the paintings and take a private late-night tour with a gallery curator, before being allowed to roam about the following morning.
The gallery said the winner would be able to "see over 1,000 works of art, which trace the development of painting in the Western European tradition... from iconic masterpieces to paintings which have never previously been seen in the National Gallery".
"The carefully curated rehang will enable them to not only see their favourites returned to the walls, but also those paintings in the context of history," it said, calling the prize a chance to "experience the wonder of art".
The Sainsbury Wing opens to the public on May 10, and the gallery's competition is open until 1700 GMT on April 28.
Though the National Gallery said this would be its first official sleepover, it has hosted late-night events before.
On January 17, it announced it was opening through the night to give art lovers a final chance to see its blockbuster Vincent van Gogh exhibition, following a similar experiment in 2012 for a Leonardo da Vinci display.
The National Gallery, which is free to enter, was founded in 1824 and has a collection of more than 2,300 paintings.
F.Moura--PC
