 The National Gallery opened to the public on 10 May 1824 , housed in Angerstein 's former townhouse at No. 100 Pall Mall . Angerstein 's paintings were joined in 1826 by those from Beaumont 's collection , and in 1831 by the Reverend William Holwell Carr 's bequest of 35 paintings . Initially the Keeper of Paintings , William <unk> , bore the burden of managing the Gallery , but in July 1824 some of this responsibility fell to the newly formed board of trustees . 
