Builders find hidden letter praising demolition at National Gallery
- Builders found a letter from John Sainsbury, the funder of the National Gallery, while demolishing a false column in the Sainsbury Wing.
- The letter, written in 1990, criticized the column's design and expressed Sainsbury's delight at its removal.
- The discovery of the letter highlights the ongoing renovations aimed at improving the gallery's space and visitor experience.
During renovations at the National Gallery, builders discovered a letter from John Sainsbury, the gallery's funder, hidden inside a false column. The letter, dated 1990, expressed Sainsbury's strong disapproval of the column's design, which he deemed unnecessary and a mistake by the architect Robert Venturi. Sainsbury had secretly placed the note in the column during construction, anticipating that future renovations would address his concerns. His widow, Anya Linden, was present when the letter was found and expressed joy at its rediscovery, believing her late husband would be pleased with the gallery's new plans. The letter has been preserved in the gallery's archive as a significant historical document. The Sainsbury Wing, funded by Sainsbury and his brothers, opened in 1991 and is currently undergoing an £85 million upgrade to enhance visitor experience, with a focus on creating a more open foyer. This renovation is a response to the increased visitor numbers that have exceeded initial expectations since the wing's design in the 1980s.