James Bond Locations

James Bond Locations

The National Gallery in London contains a collection of Western European paintings that date from the 13th to the 19th century.

The gallery features most prominently in Skyfall as the location where Bond and Q meet for the first time.

We first see Bond walking through Trafalgar Square toward, then up the right-hand set of steps at the gallery’s main entrance. We then see Bond meet Q in room 34 of the gallery in front of The Fighting Temeraire by JMW Turner. This painting depicts the warship Temeraire that played a role in Nelson’s victory at The Battle of Trafalgar being towed to be broken up after being decommisioned. The event in the painting is discussed as a metaphor suggesting Bond is nearing the end of his usefulness as an agent due to his age.

JMW Turner, The Fighting Temeraire, National Gallery, London

The Fighting Temeraire (1839, Joseph Mallord William Turner)

Behind Q we can see Joseph Wright’s painting An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump.

Behind Bond we can see Mr and Mrs William Hallett (‘The Morning Walk’) by Thomas Gainsborough.

The National Gallery is located at Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN. Further details are on their website at http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk