The Vernon Gift was a major donation of artworks by the British art collector Robert Vernon, presented to the nation in 1847. It initiated a wave of public donations during the Victorian era
Vernon, a wealthy businessman and noted collector, was a prominent supporter of contemporary British art. He often bought his works from the annual exhibitions of the Royal Academy and the British Institution. In total he presented 166 works from his collection to the nation. He died the following year. Notable painters whose works he donated include John Constable, William Etty, Joshua Reynolds, Clarkson Stanfieldand J.M.W. Turner.
The donation formed the basis of the British collection of the National Gallery. This represented a significant shift, as when the Gallery has been established in 1824 it featured a single painting by a contemporary artist David Wilkie's The Village Holiday. Later many of the paintings were transferred to the Tate Britain in Pimlico.
<Gallery Mode="packed" Heights="160"> File:Henry Perronet Briggs (1791-1793-1844) - The First Interview between the Spaniards and the Peruvians - N00375 - National Gallery.jpg|The First Interview Between the Spaniards and the Peruvians by Henry Perronet Briggs Augustus Wall Callcott (1779-1844) - Entrance to Pisa from Leghorn - N00346 - National Gallery.jpg|Entrance to Pisa from Leghorn by Augustus Wall Callcott File:Augustus Wall Callcott (1779-1844) - Littlehampton Pier - N00345 - National Gallery.jpg|Littlehampton Pier by Augustus Wall Callcott File:John Constable (1776-1837) - The Valley Farm - N00327 - National Gallery.jpg|The Valley Farm by John Constable File:William Etty (1787âÂÂ1849) â Candaules, King of Lydia, Shews his Wife by Stealth to Gyges, One of his Ministers, as She Goes to Bed â N00358 â Tate.jpg|The Imprudence of Candules by William Etty File:Etty Youth 1832.jpg|Youth on the Prow, and Pleasure at the Helm by William Etty File:William Etty (1787-1849) - Window in Venice, during a Festa - N00364 - National Gallery.jpg|Window in Venice During a Festa by William Etty File:Gainsborough - Musidora.jpg|Musidora by Thomas Gainsborough File:George Jones (1786-1869) - Battle of Borodino - N00391 - National Gallery.jpg|The Battle of Borodino by George Jones File:Jones â Godiva Preparing to Ride through Coventry.jpg|Godiva Preparing to Ride through Coventry by George Jones File:Edwin Henry Landseer (1802-1873) - Highland Music - N00411 - National Gallery.jpg|Highland Music by Edwin Landseer File:Sir Edwin Henry Landseer - Deer and Deer Hounds in a Mountain Torrent - Google Art Project.jpg|The Hunted Stag by Edwin Landseer File:Edwin Henry Landseer (1802-1873) - High Life - A00703 - Tate.jpg|High Life by Edwin Landseer File:Edwin Henry Landseer (1802-1873) - Low Life - A00702 - Tate.jpg|Low Life by Edwin Landseer File:Daniel Maclise (1806-1870) - Scene from 'Twelfth Night' ('Malvolio and the Countess') - N00423 - National Gallery.jpg|Malvolio and the Countess by Daniel Maclise File:Daniel Maclise (1806-1870) - The Play Scene in 'Hamlet' - N00422 - National Gallery.jpg|The Play Scene in Hamlet by Daniel Maclise File:William Mulready (1786-1863) - The Ford ('Crossing the Ford') - N00395 - National Gallery.jpg|Crossing the Ford by William Mulready File:William Mulready (1786-1863) - Fair Time ('Returning from the Ale-House') - N00394 - National Gallery.jpg|Returning from the Ale House by William Mulready File:Henry William Pickersgill (1782-1875) - Robert Vernon - N00416 - National Gallery.jpg|Portrait of Robert Vernon by Henry William Pickersgill File:The Age of Innocence - Reynolds.jpg|The Age of Innocence by Joshua Reynolds File:Samuel Scott, Old London Bridge.jpg|Old London Bridge by Samuel Scott File:Clarkson Frederick Stanfield (1793-1867) - Lake Como - N00406 - National Gallery.jpg|Lake Como by Clarkson Stanfield File:Clarkson Frederick Stanfield (1793-1867) - Oude Scheld - Texel Island, Looking towards Nieuwe Diep and the Zuider Zee - N00404 - National Gallery.jpg|Oude Scheld â Texel Island by Clarkson Stanfield File:(Barcelona) The Golden Bough - Joseph Mallord William Turner - Tate Britain.jpg|The Golden Bough by J.M.W. Turner File:Joseph Mallord William Turner - The Dogano, San Giorgio, Citella, from the Steps of the Europa - Google Art Project.jpg|The Dogana, San Giorgio, Citella, from the Steps of the Europa by J.M.W. Turner File:Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) - The Prince of Orange, William III, Embarked from Holland, and Landed at Torbay, November 4th, 1688, after a Stormy Passage - N00369 - National Gallery.jpg|The Prince of Orange Landing at Torbay by J.M.W. Turner File:William Turner, Bridge of Sighs, Ducal Palace and Custom-House.jpg|Bridge of Sighs, Ducal Palace and Custom House by J.M.W. Turner File:Edward Matthew Ward (1816-1879) - The Disgrace of Lord Clarendon, after his Last Interview with the King - Scene at Whitehall Palace, in 1667 (replica) - N00431 - National Gallery.jpg|The Disgrace of Lord Clarendon by Edward Matthew Ward File:Edward Matthew Ward (1816-1879) - The South Sea Bubble, a Scene in 'Change Alley in 1720 - N00432 - National Gallery.jpg|The South Sea Bubble by Edward Matthew Ward File:David Wilkie (1785-1841) - Newsmongers - N00331 - National Gallery.jpg|Newsmongers by David Wilkie File:David Wilkie (1785-1841) - The Peep-o'-Day Boys' Cabin, in the West of Ireland - N00332 - National Gallery.jpg|The Peep-o'-Day Boys' Cabin by David Wilkie File:Richard Wilson (1713-1714-1782) - Lake Avernus and the Island of Capri - N00304 - National Gallery.jpg|Lake Avernus and the Island of Capri by Richard Wilson </gallery>