Great Britain - an island state in the north of Europe and is in the British Isles. The UK is an amazing story - originally inhabited by Celtic tribes, it has gone from a distant Roman province to the mighty British Empire, down to the middle of the twentieth century, almost to its original size, without losing any of its influence on the world stage, no respect of the world community. English is now essentially an international language of communication. Native English talking about 410 million people, and if you include those who consider English as their second language - about one billion people. English language - one of the six official and working languages of the UN. British culture is rich and diverse, it has a significant impact on the culture of the world community on a global scale. The UK has strong cultural ties with its former colonies, especially with countries where English is an official language. Significant contribution to British culture over the past half-century have immigrants from the Indian subcontinent and from the Caribbean. In the formation of the UK It consists of the former independent states with different cultures from each other. United Kingdom Britain, a democratic country, in its political structure - a parliamentary monarchy headed by the Queen. The legislature of Great Britain - a bicameral parliament. Parliament is the supreme authority throughout the territory, despite the presence in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland own management of administrative structures. Government headed by a monarch, direct management by the prime minister, appointed by the monarch, who, therefore, is the Chairman of the Government of His (Her) Majesty. The head of state for more than 50 years, Elizabeth II, the eldest daughter of the Duke of York George, King of Great Britain George VI. Elizabeth II performs only representative functions, virtually has no effect on policy. Interestingly, the Queen officially registered in the social network Facebook, and your first message sent over the Internet at the dawn of a global network in 1976. The full name of the state - the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. UK includes Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, as well as some small overseas territories. Britain is a member of NATO and the European Union, though the country is not part of the euro zone, while maintaining its traditional national currency - the pound sterling. As a member of NATO, the United Kingdom has been actively involved in the alliance's military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. Welcome to the site, which tells about the UK, you will find a lot of useful information for both tourists and lovers of British culture and history.
The National Gallery
National galereyaOpisanie National Gallery was founded, thanks to King George IV, who demanded the government to purchase a collection of 38 paintings, which included six works by Hogarth. Paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt and other Flemish, Dutch and Italian Renaissance artists were acquired later on as the gallery expanded. Today it is the center of world art. Not far from the National Gallery is the National Portrait Gallery, which is one of the first to recognize the role of photography in art. In 1897. opened Tate Gallery, which houses a collection of works by British artists, including Turner. The collection dates back to 1850. and includes paintings by Hogarth, Blake, artists' pre-Rafaelistov "and the Impressionists. Walls are painted Rex Uaystlerom and bronze figures by sculptor Henry Moore standing near the museum. The British Museum is one of the largest museums in the world, was founded under the will of Sir Hans Sloane in 1753g., When he insisted that the Parliament acquired his art collection, works of ancient art and natural history for 20,000 pounds, which was much lower than their real value . Simultaneously acquired a collection of manuscripts Harleyna, and January 15 1759g. A new museum was open, but only for a few people. In 1823. The Royal Library was built, which was later completed construction of new facilities, and a round reading room under a large copper dome. The museum ancient works of art, from the newly discovered treasures of the ancient Roman period to the copies of the "Magna Carta", the Parthenon sculptures and ancient Egyptian mummies.