Thank you for subscribing!
An American museum proudly showed off the sofas as a prized new addition to its collection
The National Gallery has sold its beloved red leather sofas to a US museum after they were deemed a "safety risk".
The iconic pieces of furniture, where generations of visitors lounged while taking in masterworks by Turner, da Vinci and Van Gogh, have crossed the Atlantic after being discarded by the Trafalgar Square institution.
The ornate Victorian-style benches, crafted from leather and wood, were removed last year after the gallery determined they posed a fire hazard and attracted dust and pests.
Stark minimalist oak seating was brought in as a replacement.
The decision to offload the much-loved furniture proved controversial at the time, and fresh criticism has now erupted after an American museum proudly showed off the sofas as a prized new addition to its collection.
The Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut, situated roughly 3,300 miles from the National Gallery, eagerly announced it had acquired the rejected seating in a social media post that quickly gained attention.
The American museum staged a theatrical reveal, pulling black covers from the benches as onlookers watched, accompanied by the caption: "Your seat awaits!"
A sign positioned beside the sofas teased: "Hidden in plain sight: We're unveiling something special, stay tuned for the reveal."
In an accompanying video showing visitors settling into the red leather seats.
The Wadsworth said: "From one historic art museum to another, two Victorian-style gallery benches have recently crossed an ocean to continue their museum careers here at The Wadsworth. Come find them in the galleries."
The unveiling prompted a wave of online criticism directed at the National Gallery.
One commenter tagged the institution directly, writing: "Should that be National Embarrassment? Strange how these benches were too much of a risk of pests for you to keep in your galleries but have found a happy new home."
A furniture designer piled on, posting: "So pleased these have ended up somewhere that appreciates them.
"Sadly so many museums and galleries in the UK are now run by philistines."
The barbs reflect a broader frustration among some gallery-goers who felt the decision to dispose of the characterful seating in favour of austere replacements was a misstep by one of the world's most celebrated art institutions.
The sofas are thought to have been first placed in the National Gallery during the 1980s.
When they went under the hammer, individual benches carried estimates of up to £1,200.
According to reports, the seating was purchased at auction by a buyer in the UK before being donated to the Connecticut museum.
The Wadsworth has installed the benches in its Morgan Great Hall, a gallery space that was reopened in 2015 following a refurbishment and features works by Peter Paul Rubens, Frederic Lord Leighton and Constance Mayer.
The National Gallery, meanwhile, marked its bicentenary in 2024 and has since announced plans for a new wing near its Trafalgar Square home, following an £85 million renovation of its Sainsbury Wing.
