Foundation of the National Gallery

In 1824 the House of Commons decided to buy the John Julius Angerstein Collection 38 paintings for the Nation. The Collection included Claude's 'seaport' and Titian's 'Venus and Adonis' as well as Hoqarth's ' marriage a la mode'..'

 Whig mp George Agar Ellis was determined to provide free access. He wrote that at the new National Gallery  . . there must be no sending for ticket no asking permission-no starting it up half the days in the week; its doors must always be open, without fee or reward; accessible I to all ranks and degrees of men, to the indolent as well as the busy to the able as well as the industrious.

In 1853 German Art Expert Gustav von Waagen was disgusted with the Miasma given oft by working class visitors.