A Billionaire’s final wish: Lord John Sainsbury’s secret note discovered at the National Gallery
When a billionaire philanthropist disagrees with the architectural decisions of an art gallery he’s funding, what does he do? Lord John Sainsbury, the British grocery magnate who spent tens of millions of pounds supporting the National Gallery in London, left a message from beyond the grave, ensuring his opinion would be known nearly 25 years later.
Dispute over design
In the 1980s, Lord John Sainsbury, Baron of Preston Candover, invested heavily in the construction of a new wing for the National Gallery, named the Sainsbury Wing. However, he took issue with a specific element of the design: two nonstructural, decorative columns in the building’s lobby.
Instead of publicly expressing his discontent or halting the funding, Sainsbury opted for a subtle but bold move, one that would only come to light long after his passing.
The discovery of the note
During recent refurbishments at the National Gallery, construction workers dismantling the controversial columns made a surprising find. Hidden inside one of the columns was a note written by Sainsbury in 1990, on official Sainsbury’s letterhead, expressing his disapproval of the columns’ inclusion in the lobby’s design.
The note read: “IF YOU HAVE FOUND THIS NOTE YOU MUST BE ENGAGED IN DEMOLISHING ONE OF THE FALSE COLUMNS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THE FOYER OF THE SAINSBURY WING OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY,” read the missive, printed on official Sainsbury’s superstore letterhead paper. “I BELIEVE THAT THE FALSE COLUMNS ARE A MISTAKE OF THE ARCHITECT AND THAT WE WOULD LIVE TO REGRET OUR ACCEPTING THIS DETAIL OF HIS DESIGN.”
He added, “LET IT BE KNOWN THAT ONE OF THE DONORS OF THIS BUILDING IS ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED THAT YOUR GENERATION HAS DECIDED TO DISPENSE WITH THE UNNECESSARY COLUMNS.”
Sainsbury’s long-lasting influence
The revelation of the note, which was actually discovered last year but only reported this week by The Art Newspaper, has been confirmed by the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. It showcases Sainsbury’s quiet yet determined approach to expressing his aesthetic preferences regarding the gallery’s design.
John Sainsbury, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 94, never lived to see his note uncovered. His widow, Lady Sainsbury, formerly a ballerina named Anya Linden, expressed her joy over the rediscovery of the letter, stating, “I am so happy for John’s letter to be rediscovered after all these years.”
A legacy of philanthropy and leadership
Sainsbury played a crucial role in expanding his family’s supermarket empire, Sainsbury’s, which was founded in 1869. Under his leadership from 1969 to 1992, the company grew to become the United Kingdom’s second-largest supermarket chain. By 2008, the Sainsbury family was estimated to have a net worth of £1.3 billion (approximately $1.7 billion), according to The Sunday Times Rich List. Their charitable contributions include about £300 million in charitable trusts, with £40 million specifically donated to the National Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing.
A controversial addition
The Sainsbury Wing has been a subject of debate since its inception. The original design plans were famously criticized by King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, who described them as “a carbuncle on the face of a much-loved friend.” The initial plans were scrapped in favor of the design that included the controversial columns.
Now, as part of an £85 million renovation project, the columns have been removed to create more space for visitors in the gallery lobby. Lady Sainsbury remarked that her late husband would have been “relieved and delighted” by the gallery’s new plans and the additional space created for the public.
John Sainsbury’s posthumous note serves as a testament to his long-standing vision and influence, subtly reminding future generations of his desire for architectural integrity in one of London’s most renowned cultural institutions.