Art in the Making Tour

In this audio tour, members of the National Gallery’s Conservation and Scientific Departments reveal their discoveries about the techniques and materials used in a selection of very different paintings from the gallery’s collection.

The National Gallery has been researching the history of painting technique since the 1940s. Modern scientific methods - including x-rays, pigment analysis, and microscopic inspection - yield fascinating insights into artist’s working methods.

The tour has been sponsored by Hewlett Packard whose technology helps to research and conserve the Gallery’s masterpieces.

Listen to extracts from the tour »

Visit the Gallery to take the Full Tour

The full 'Art in the Making' audio tour is available from any of the Antenna Audio sound guides desks in the Gallery.

A transcript of the tour is also available from the audio guide desks on request.