Philip Hendy was appointed Director of the National Gallery in 1946 when the Gallery and its administration were entering a period of change and redevelopment. Hendy was responsible for the re-establishment and rebuilding of the Gallery after the Second World War. He was also very involved with the cleaning of paintings in The National Gallery collection. Early in his Directorship, Hendy exhibited a collection of cleaned paintings which led to a controversy which lasted for many years. Philip Hendy and the National Gallery came under scrutiny again when Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington was stolen in 1961 (it was returned in 1965).
As Director, Hendy spent a great deal of his time promoting The National Gallery at home and abroad.
Philip Hendy resigned in 1967.
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