As part of the National Gallery's bicentenary celebrations, the Sainsbury Wing, originally opened in 1991, has been substantially restructured, making it more open, more welcoming, and, let's hope, more accessible. It has also been radically rehung, as the History of Art has changed substantially over the past 34 years. Ernst Gombrich published The Story of Art in 1950 - and one of the things that has become clear is that art does not have one, singular 'story': there are far more stories to tell. The structure of the Sainsbury Wing allows you to move through it freely - and you can create your own 'Stories of Art' as you go. Over this series of three talks I am going to pick three routes through the space to tell three different 'stories'.  

In the second week we will gradually stroll up and down the central axis of the Sainsbury Wing. It is one of the most exciting vistas which has been created, looking from one end to the other towards Cione's majestic San Pier Maggiore altarpiece, which has a brand-new period-style frame. A predella (by Fra Angelico) sits in front of it, as if taking the place of Cione's, while Segna di Bonaventura's Crucifix  hangs from the ceiling. Were they 'at home' in a church, this is how these paintings would have been seen. 

Once we reach the many-panelled altarpiece and look back to the other end, The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian by the Pollaiuolo brothers forms the focus of our view. From one end of the Sainsbury Wing to the other the curators have charted the development of the altarpiece from polyptych to pala, the single field of painting which became popular during the Renaissance. 

In between we see regional schools, and different tastes - a rich array of remarkable works. 

You can book for these three talks individually, or you can book all three together, on a separate link, which will give a substantial discount.