August 27th 2024.
The Sainsbury family, well-known for their generosity and philanthropy, have recently donated an additional £10million towards the renovation of a National Gallery wing that they had previously funded. This has brought their total contribution to an estimated £40million, which is equivalent to £90million in today's currency. The Sainsbury Wing, as it is known, was initially built with their donation, but there is an interesting story behind its construction.
It is said that one of the brothers, John Sainsbury, disliked the design of the building so much that he hid a secret message addressed to the demolition workers within one of the features he disliked the most. This letter, dated July 26, 1990, was meant to express his dissatisfaction with the design and his belief that it would be a regrettable mistake. However, despite his strong opinion, the building was still constructed as planned.
Interestingly, John's time capsule was almost discovered last year when builders were demolishing parts of the museum's interior. But unfortunately, John passed away in 2022 at the age of 94, and it was his wife Anya, a former ballerina, who was present for the letter's rediscovery. She expressed her happiness and believed that John would be delighted with the gallery's new plans and the extra space they are creating.
Although John's initial wishes for the building were not fulfilled until 34 years later, the original design has been defended by some. Neil MacGregor, who was the gallery's director at the time of construction, still sees the sense in architect Robert Venturi's vision. Venturi wanted the foyer to have a grand and crypt-like feel, leading visitors to the galleries. However, John argued that the extra columns would only confuse visitors and obstruct the entrance to other areas of the building. Despite this disagreement, the building was still constructed as planned, and MacGregor believes that the architect should be allowed to fulfill his vision.
Now, after more than three decades, the Sainsbury Wing is finally getting a facelift with an £85million upgrade. And once again, the Sainsbury family is the single largest contributor to this project. It is a testament to their commitment to the arts and their desire to see the National Gallery flourish. Though John may have had his doubts about the original design, it is heartening to see that his family's legacy continues to support the arts and culture in such a meaningful way.
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