The director of London’s National Gallery, Sir Nicholas Penny, has announced his decision to retire from his post as director of the National Gallery next year, after six years at the helm of the institution.

“We will miss him greatly,” commented Mark Getty, the chairman of the National Gallery Trustees. “Nick has been an extraordinarily successful Director of the National Gallery, steering the nation’s acquisition of the two great Titian paintings, Diana and Actaeon and Diana and Callisto jointly with the National Galleries of Scotland, and this year securing the acquisition of the Gallery’s first major American painting, Men of the Docks by George Bellows.”

The institution broke its record attendance under Penny’s leadership, exceeding six million visitors in 2013. Penny also oversaw major blockbuster exhibitions, including Leonardo da Vinci, Painter at the Court of Milan, the gallery’s most popular show ever.

The director will remain in post until the appointment of his successor. He said he looked forward to “spending more time with [his] family, friends, and books.”