{
  "id": 14720768,
  "title": "London National Gallery benches migrate to Wadsworth Atheneum to continue supporting tired art lovers’ bums",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/london-national-gallery-benches-migrate-to-wadsworth-atheneum-to",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-15T14:52:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Art Newspaper",
    "slug": "the-art-newspaper",
    "url": "https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/10/15/national-gallery-benches-migrate-to-wadsworth-atheneum-to-support-other-tired-art-lovers-bums"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Last year, the National Gallery in London sold a set of popular leather benches to the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut. These modern reproductions, mostly crafted in the 1990s, were removed due to not meeting fire safety standards and being hard to clean, posing a threat to the artwork from pests. The red leather benches, once a comforting spot for tired art enthusiasts at the London gallery, have now found a new home in the Morgan Great Hall at the Wadsworth Atheneum. A Wadsworth Atheneum video showcases the transition, stating that these Victorian-style gallery seats have \"recently crossed an ocean to continue their museum careers here.\" Museum officials express hope for these benches to continue serving visitors for many more years.",
  "summary": "Leather seating from London's National Gallery has crossed the Atlantic to Connecticut",
  "key_points": [
    "London National Gallery sold popular leather benches to Wadsworth Atheneum.",
    "Benches removed due to fire safety and cleaning issues at London gallery.",
    "New home for benches: Morgan Great Hall at Wadsworth Atheneum in Connecticut."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Art Newspaper",
        "title": "Artists impacted by Stephen Friedman gallery closure out in force at Frieze London",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/artists-impacted-by-stephen-friedman-gallery-closure-out-in-force-at",
        "published": "2026-10-15T09:13:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}