How to create a wonder of art

It took just over a year to deliver, but it was over 3 years in the making: 'C C Land: Wonder of Art'.

Dr Annetta Berry, Dr Mary McMahon, and Naomi Lewis host a conversation reflecting on the last year and their work in this once-in-a-generation redisplay of the collection.

From early discussions of what goes where and developing interpretations of the collection to incorporate the knowledge, research and sensibilities of today. Working alongside the building of a reimagined Sainsbury Wing all whilst keeping the Gallery open to all, we take a moment to ask some of those behind-the-scenes, what it was like to work on such an impressive project.

Dr Annetta Berry is Interpretation Manager and Editor (NG200: The Wonder of Art) and the author of several National Gallery catalogues and books. She was previously Author for the 16th-century Italian Paintings and British School (online collections), and the Gallery's first New Media Editor. She has also previously worked in collections, interpretation and digital for Tate, the Royal Collection, the British Library and Norfolk Museums Service.

Dr Mary McMahon is Associate Curator (NG200 Collections) at the National Gallery, where she was previously Acting Associate Curator of 1600–1800 Paintings, and before that Bernays Curatorial Fellow of British Paintings. She has also held curatorial, exhibition and research positions at the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Watts Gallery.

Naomi Lewis has been working for the past three years as Project Registrar at the National Gallery, London, where she project managed the practical delivery of C C Land: Wonder of Art; a complex collection rehang. With 18 years’ experience in the Registrar field Lewis is well versed in the movement of Old Master paintings for loan/exhibition and acquisition. Lewis has a History of Art degree and a Diploma in Law and Collections Management from the Institute of Art and Law.