Episode 1 will look at the founding of the National Gallery. Kate Bryan talks to curators about the original acquisition of just 38 paintings that made up the National Gallery in 1824. She takes a trip behind the scenes to look at the stunning architecture. Built in 1838, the National Gallery was soon in need of extension Kate returns to the front of house to examine works by the masters of Italian, Dutch and Flemish painters, collected in the late 1800s.