Skip to main content

The National Gallery creates first ‘downloadable’ exhibition as 30 real-life images of its paintings go on display outdoors in Cromer

Issued May 2022

Pictures Around Cromer, The National Gallery Collection

2 September 2022 – 30 April 2023

The National Gallery has created the first exhibition of images of its paintings that can be downloaded for free.

'Pictures Around Cromer, The National Gallery Collection' (2 September 2022 – 31 April 2023) is an outdoor exhibition across the seaside town of Cromer in Norfolk, comprising up to 30 life-size replica artworks from the National Gallery Collection.

Image: Rachel with Rousseau's 'Surprised' outside her flower shop © Siri Taylor

Following the successful Bigger Picture initiative devised by Cromer Artspace whereby life-size reproductions of great works of art from all over the world were displayed in various outdoor locations around the town of Cromer during lockdown, the facsimiles from the National Gallery Collection will be seen in multiple locations throughout the town accompanied by a label with information about the artwork and a QR code linking to further online resources. Cromer Artspace will also produce a printed guide and map.

The Gallery’s Learning Team will be running a free and exclusive teacher training session for Cromer’s primary schools.

Image: A drawing from a 'Draw from the Masters' session in front of Holbein's 'Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling' © Siri Taylor

Every year, the National Gallery partners with organisations and audiences across the UK in a range of different and innovative ways to encourage everyone in Britain to engage with their national collection. Great art should enrich the daily life of everyone in Britain today, and over the past three years, the National Gallery has partnered with a large number of organisations of very different scales through a variety of projects. As we continue to develop our programmes we are keen to create new opportunities for access and engagement with people across the UK, in particular those who have the least access to art.

Image: Sue with Van Eyck's 'Arnolfini Portrait' outside her bookshop © Siri Taylor

National Gallery Director Dr Gabriele Finaldi said:

‘The work of Cromer Artspace and their 'Bigger Picture' initiative was well received by their local community. We are delighted to be able to deepen our collaboration with Cromer Artspace and to help stage an outdoor exhibition which we hope will bring much delight to visitors and inhabitants of Cromer alike.’

Barry Meadows, Cromer Artspace Trustee, said:

‘As a small charity run entirely by volunteers, we were really pleased with the community feedback on the 'Bigger Picture' with extremely positive support and requests for more of the same. So when the National Gallery suggested a follow-up exhibition, we knew it was a good match for Cromer. Our survey last year highlighted the difficulty people have with the cost and time necessary to visit exhibitions and we love the idea of the National Gallery coming here to exhibit on our walls.’

The 'Bigger Picture' and the follow up 'Pictures around Cromer', the National Gallery Collection, are financially supported by North Norfolk District Council, Cromer Town Council and Norfolk County Council as well as many local businesses and individuals.

Organised by Cromer Artspace in collaboration with the National Gallery, London

Notes to editors

The selected artworks for Pictures Around Cromer, The National Gallery Collection are as follows:

  • NG186, Jan van Eyck, 'Portrait of Giovanni(?) Arnolfini and his Wife', 1434 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG524 Joseph Mallord William Turner, 'The Fighting Temeraire', 1839 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG653.1 Robert Campin, 'A Man', about 1435 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG653.2 Robert Campin, 'A Woman', about 1435 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG852 Peter Paul Rubens, 'Portrait of Susanna Lunden(?) ('Le Chapeau de Paille')', probably 1622-5 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG915 Sandro Botticelli, 'Venus and Mars', about 1485 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG944 Workshop of Marinus van Reymerswale, 'Two Tax-Gatherers', probably 1540s © The National Gallery, London
  • NG1653 Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, 'Self Portrait in a Straw Hat', 1782 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG3070 Cosimo Tura, 'A Muse (Calliope?)', probably 1455-60 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG3268 Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 'The Umbrellas', about 1881-6 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG3858 Edouard Manet, 'Corner of Café-Concert', probably 1878-80 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG3861 Vincent van Gogh, 'A Wheatfield, with Cypresses', 1889 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG3863 Vincent van Gogh, 'Sunflowers', 1888 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG4256 Lorenzo Lotto, 'Portrait of a Woman inspired by Lucretia', about 1530-3 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG4930 Rembrandt, 'Saskia can Uylenburgh in Arcadian Costume', 1635 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG5769 Quinten Massys, 'An Old Woman ('The Ugly Duchess')', about 1513 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6301 Thomas Gainsborough, 'Mr and Mrs Andrews', about 1750 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6359 Paul Cézanne, 'Bathers (Les Grandes Baigneuses),' about 1894-1905 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6421 Henri Rousseau, 'Surprised!', 1891 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6450 Henri Matisse, 'Portrait of Greta Moll', 1908 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6458 Frans Hals, 'Young Man holding a Skull (Vanitas)', 1626-8 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6504 Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, 'Boy bitten by a Lizard', 1595-5 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6505 Louis Melendez, 'Still Life with Oranges and Walnuts', 1772 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6510 John Constable, 'Stratford Mill', 1820 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6532 Master of the Mornauer, 'Portrait of Alexander Mornauer', about 1464-88 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6553 Bartolomé Bermejo, 'Saint Michael Triumphs over the Devil,' 1468 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6601 Claude-Joseph Vernet, 'A Shipwreck in Stormy Seas', 1773 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6608 Claude Monet, 'Water-Lilies, Setting Sun', about 1907 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6669 Juan de Zurbarán, 'Still Life with Lemons in a Wicker Basket', about 1643-9 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6671 Artemisia Gentileschi, 'Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria', about 1615-17 © The National Gallery, London
  • NG6685 Jean-Etienne Liotard, 'The Lavergne Family Breakfast', 1754 © The National Gallery, London

The National Gallery is one of the greatest art galleries in the world. Founded by Parliament in 1824, the Gallery houses the nation’s collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the late 13th to the early 20th century. The collection includes works by Bellini, Cézanne, Degas, Leonardo, Monet, Raphael, Rembrandt, Renoir, Rubens, Titian, Turner, Van Dyck, Van Gogh and Velázquez. The Gallery’s key objectives are to enhance the collection, care for the collection and provide the best possible access to visitors. To find out more about the National Gallery’s strategic aims please visit https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/media/25328/strategic-plan_2018-2023.pdf .

Cromer Artspace is a registered charity run entirely by volunteers. We aim to establish the arts as a valued and vital part of local life and leisure for our isolated coastal town. Our focus is to develop art in public places, to increase accessibility, to support local businesses, to encourage audience engagement and to create links with arts organisations and practitioners on a worldwide basis. https://cromer-artspace.uk/

'The Bigger Picture' closing exhibition will be in Cromer Community Centre on Wednesday 11 and Friday 13 May from 2-4pm and all weekend 14/15 May 11am-4pm. For further information please visit https://cromer-artspace.uk/the-bigger-picture

Press enquiries

National Gallery Press Office email press@nationalgallery.org.uk 
Publicity images can be obtained from https://press.nationalgallery.org.uk/ 

For further press information for Cromer Artspace, please contact Barry Meadows on 0788 458 1848 or email barry@cromer-artspace.uk