Decades of pollution removed from the National Gallery’s facade

The National Gallery’s grand stone frontage has been restored to its 1830s appearance now that decades of pollution has been cleaned off the front of the building.
Ahead of the gallery’s 200th anniversary, the external façade overlooking Trafalgar Square underwent a major phased cleaning and refurbishment programme, made possible by support from the late Julia Rausing and her husband Hans Rausing.
With the final scaffolding now removed, the stone looks as fresh and clean as it