Builders working on the renovation of a wing of London’s National Gallery were surprised when the demolition of a concrete column uncovered a hidden note from a major donor written more than three decades earlier. 

The letter, which was found by demolition workers inside the false column in the gallery’s Sainsbury Wing, had been hidden by Lord John Sainsbury, the former chair of the supermarket chain. 

Sainsbury funded the construction of the wing along with his brothers but in the letter, which was dated 26 July 1990, said he was “absolutely delighted” that the “unnecessary” columns were being removed.

“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,” the typed note, as seen in The Art Newspaper, said.

“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.

“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.”

The Sainsbury Wing was completed in 1991 and designed by American postmodern architect Robert Venturi and his wife and professional partner, Denise Scott Brown.

Neil MacGregor was the director of the National Gallery between 1987 and 2002, and oversaw the planning and building of the Sainsbury Wing.

He said: “Venturi wanted the foyer to have the feel of a mighty crypt, leading upstairs to the galleries, so it was a subsidiary space—the beginning of a journey, not a destination. 

“John Sainsbury argued that sightlines should be as unencumbered as possible, thinking the extra columns would conceal the entrance to the lecture theatre and temporary exhibition galleries, confusing the visitor.

“Although there were drawbacks, Venturi had a coherent idea of the organic link between [the] entrance hall, staircase and main galleries. I felt that, on balance, we should let the architect be the architect.”

The refurbished wing of the National Gallery is due to reopen in May 2025. 

Sainsbury, who was a Conservative peer, died in 2022 at the age of 94.