Holbein – The Ambassadors
PREVIOUS: RAPHAEL – POPE JULIUS II Hans Holbein: The Ambassadors: 1533 This is a picture full of meanings – some obvious, some hidden. We can […]
museums
Botticelli – Venus and Mars
PREVIOUS: VAN EYCK, THE ARNOLFINI PORTRAIT Sandro Botticelli: Venus and Mars: about 1480-90 We’re back across the Alps to Florence for this painting, Botticelli’s Venus […]
Margarito d’Arezzo – The Virgin and Child Enthroned
Margarito d’Arezzo – The Virgin and Child Enthroned, with Narrative Scenes. About 1263-64 This is one of the earliest pictures in the National Gallery, dating […]
The Rosetta Stone – the key to understanding ancient Egypt
It’s a very dull piece of a granite-like stone, and the stuff that’s carved on it isn’t hugely interesting either – it’s to do with […]
Van Gogh – Sunflowers
PREVIOUS: MONET – THE GARE ST LAZARE Sunflowers: Vincent van Gogh: 1888 This painting is probably very familiar to you, because it’s one of […]
Velazquez – Philip IV of Spain in Brown and Silver
PREVIOUS: RUBENS – HET STEEN Philip IV of Spain in Brown and Silver: Diego Velázquez: about 1631-2 This splendid figure, resplendent in a formal costume […]
Claude – Seaport with the Embarkation of St Ursula
PREVIOUS: REMBRANDT – THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY Seaport with the embarkation of St Ursula: Claude: 1641 We’re looking at an imaginary landscape, at a place that […]
Raphael – Portrait of Pope Julius II
PREVIOUS: LEONARDO DA VINCI – THE VIRGIN OF THE ROCKS Raphael: Portrait of Pope Julius II: 1511 Here we’re looking at Pope Julius seated in […]
Van Eyck – The Arnolfini Portrait
PREVIOUS: UCELLO – THE BATTLE OF SAN ROMANO Jan van Eyck: The Arnolfini Portrait: 1434 While Uccello was experimenting with perspective in Italy, over in […]
Unknown artist – The Wilton Diptych
PREVIOUS: MARGARITO D’AREZZO – THE VIRGIN AND CHILD The Wilton Diptych: about 1395-1399 The previous picture was one of the earliest signed works in the […]