Academic Publications

As well as being a creative pursuit, art is a discipline and a skill that has attracted and inspired people from across the world for centuries. This has led to a rich portfolio of artistic study and academia, with art theory, art history and art conservation all areas covered in depth. The National Gallery is one of the world’s foremost art galleries, and people with a rich interest in various aspects of art visit to engage with the collection of paintings we house.

The National Gallery Shop is proud to support people in their study of art with a range of academic art books available to buy.  
We stock copies of The Linbury Lectures at the National Gallery, with 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 editions all available. There is also the Closer Look series of academic art books, which focus on specific elements of paintings at the National Gallery and beyond. Choices in this range include Techniques of Painting, Still Life, Angels, Allegory and Faces, as well as plenty more Closer Look books from which to choose.  

There are also volumes of the National Gallery’s Technical Bulletin. This is an annual record of research carried out at the National Gallery, and features input from scientists, conservators and curators.
Be sure to take a look through the full range of academic art books available via the National Gallery Shop and find a book to your liking.