If the National Gallery walls could talk, they would have some extraordinary stories to tell. Host to grand receptions, beloved destination for famous artists and guardian of remarkable works of art for more than 200 years, one story you may not have heard, is that for 16 years, a family called the Gallery home.

In 1855, Ralph Nicholson Wornum was appointed Keeper of the Gallery. The Keeper was responsible for the administration of the collection, supervising the cleaning, framing and display of the paintings, and writing the collection catalogue. Crucially, the Keeper was also expected to live on site, partly to help protect the collection from fire. Accordingly, together with his first wife, Elizabeth Selden, and their children, the Wornum family lived beneath the galleries, where family life unfolded in the very heart of the building.

In fact, three of the Wornum’s 13 children are recorded, in a handwritten inscription in the family’s Bible, as having been born in the Gallery. These children spent their formative years growing up with some of the world’s greatest paintings just a staircase away; a far cry from the loft ladder to the stored Christmas decorations that most of us are familiar with.

Gallery records state that the Wornum family occupied ten rooms – six on the ground floor, and four on the basement floor. These historic spaces, once filled with family life are now known as Supporters’ House. While the spaces have evolved from family apartments, the spirit of hospitality remains, once again welcoming people through the door as guests, rather than residents.

Designed by Amsterdam-based Studio Linse, alongside Selldorf Architects and Purcell, the interiors draw direct inspiration from works in the National Gallery Collection. Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire informed the copper-toned private dining room at the centre of the House, while changing seasonal palettes influenced by Cezanne, Aert van der Neer and Monticelli shape the atmosphere throughout the House.

The transformation respects the building’s remarkable history while creating elegant, contemporary spaces for entertaining. What was once a private home at the heart of the Gallery is now a place where guests can gather, dine and celebrate within one of London’s most iconic cultural landmarks.

Supporters’ House offers exceptional flexibility, hosting everything from intimate private dinners for 12 guests to larger celebrations for up to 200. For those looking to celebrate on a grander scale, the House connects seamlessly with the Gallery’s wider event spaces, creating the opportunity for up to 300 guests to dance and celebrate among the world’s greatest masterpieces.

Perhaps that’s a fitting tribute to the Wornums themselves. Records suggest they occasionally hosted dances within the building, proving that the National Gallery is, and will always be a place for bringing people together.

From their home to yours, Supporters’ House continues a tradition that began more than 170 years ago, welcoming people together to celebrate in one of the nation’s most extraordinary settings.

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