Nicholas Penny is to retire as National Gallery director to spend more time with “family, friends and books”.
Dr Penny, who turns 65 in December will step down next year once a successor has been appointed.
His retirement leaves two of the top jobs in British arts up for grabs, after the National Portrait Gallery director, Sandy Nairne, recently announced his impending departure.
It will also bring to an end the most successful period in the National Gallery's history.
