Insight! Sensitivity! Genius! Our critic picks the top five masterpieces in the National Gallery

It started from scratch – and became one of the world’s greatest collections. As the National Gallery celebrates its 200th birthday, we pick five sublime works – from a serene statesman to Van Gogh’s blazing bloomsThe National Gallery in London is 200 years old on Friday, but what makes it so special? Founded in 1824 when public museums of fine art were in their infancy, it was different from rivals such as the Louvre (founded 1793) and the Prado (1819) because they inher