Peer’s letter found in rubble criticises art gallery wing he paid for

When plans for the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery were first announced, Prince Charles made his most famous foray into the world of architectural criticism.

The gallery’s planned expansion, he said, was a “monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend”.

The wing’s design was scrapped and new architects appointed, but the final result was still not without controversy.

The Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery opened in 1991

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Now a newly discovered note reveals that even the building’s main donor, Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover, was not a fan of some elements of the work he had sponsored.

Hidden in a concrete column which was demolished last year on the orders of Gabriele Finaldi, the current director, the plastic-wrapped letter was designed to be found only when the column was