National Gallery director Nicholas Penny to retire

Nicholas Penny worked in The National Gallery's Renaissance Painting section before becoming director

Nicholas Penny, the head of The National Gallery in London, is to step down from the role next year.

The 64-year-old art historian, who took over as director in 2008, said he was retiring to spend more time with "family, friends and books".

During his tenure, Penny oversaw the acquisition of two Titian masterpieces, which were saved for the nation, and enjoyed record visitor numbers.

He will step down once a successor is appointed by trustees.

Penny thanked the gallery's supporters for helping to ensure it prospered "despite a steadily declining grant - to flourish both as a great and popular resource and as a home for scholarship, a national gallery admired internationally".

His departure comes two weeks after National Portrait Gallery director Sandy Nairne announced he was stepping down in February to pursue writing and advisory work.