artfirstprimo at the NG - evening tour: 21-12-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings of Western European art.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Friday 21st December, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend.

Here is a list of those paintings:

We began in the Sainsbury wing with the Wilton Diptych (about 1495-99) by Unknown French or English (active about 1459 - died 1516): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/english-or-french-the-wilton-diptych 

This was followed by Penelope with the Suitors (about 1509) by Bernardino di Betto of Perugia, called Pintoricchio (about 1481 - died 1513): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/pintoricchio-penelope-with-the-suitors

We then moved on to room 5 to look at the Triptych of the Passions of Christ (1510-15) by the unknown artist designated the Master of Delft (active early 16th century): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/master-of-delft-the-crucifixion-central-panel 

Our penultimate painting continued the theme of narrative with the Marriage-A-la-Mode (1743) by William Hogarth (1697 - 1764): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/william-hogarth-marriage-a-la-mode-4-the-toilette

And finally we ended in room 44 with The Bathers at Asnières (1884) by Georges Seurat (1851 - 1891): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/georges-seurat-bathers-at-asnieres

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be in the new year on Saturday 19th January at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30, I will also be giving the 10 Minute Talk at 16:00 in room 43 on the same day.  The subject will be At the Theatre (La Premiere Sortie) (1876-7) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 - 1919): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/pierre-auguste-renoir-at-the-theatre-la-premiere-sortie

artfirstprimo at the NG - morning tour: 21-12-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings of Western European art.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Friday 21st December, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend.

Here is a list of those paintings:

We began in the Sainsbury wing with the portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan (1501-2) by Gentile Bellini (active about 1459 - died 1516): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/giovanni-bellini-doge-leonardo-loredan

This was followed by The Virgin and Child Enthroned, with Narative Scenes (1260s) by Margarito of Arezzo (documented 1262): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/margarito-of-arezzo-the-virgin-and-child-enthroned-with-narrative-scenes

We then moved to room 11 and looked at four paintings called The Four Elements (1569) by Joachim Beuckelaer (active  1560 - died 1574): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/joachim-beuckelaer-the-four-elements-earth

Following this we moved the room 4 to look at the portrait of Erasmus (1523) by Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/8 - 1543): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/hans-holbein-the-younger-erasmus

After this it was time to come into the modern age in room 43 with Bathers at La Grenouillere (1869) by Claude-Oscar Monet (1840 - 1926): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/claude-oscar-monet-bathers-at-la-grenouillere

And finally we ended in room 44 with Lake Keitele (1905) by Akseli Galen-Kallela (1865 - 1931): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/akseli-gallen-kallela-lake-keitele

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be in the new year on Saturday 19th January at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30, I will also be giving the 10 Minute Talk at 16:00 in room 43 on the same day.  The subject will be At the Theatre (La Premiere Sortie) (1876-7) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 - 1919): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/pierre-auguste-renoir-at-the-theatre-la-premiere-sortie

artfirstprimo at the NG - afternoon tour: 21-12-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings of Western European art.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Friday 21st December, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend.

Here is a list of those paintings:

We began in the Sainsbury wing with two works with the same title, the Agony in the Garden (about 1465) by Gentile Bellini (active about 1459 - died 1516): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/giovanni-bellini-the-agony-in-the-garden and the Agony in the Garden (1458-60) by Andrea Mantegna (about 1430/1 - 1506): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/andrea-mantegna-the-agony-in-the-garden

This was followed by the work of the Netherlandish, Northern Renaissance painters in room 56, focusing on The Arnolfini Portrait (1434) by Jan van Eyck (active  1422 - died 1441): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-the-arnolfini-portrait
But we also looked at briefly in the same room,  The Portrait of a Man (Self-Portrait?) (1433)  by Jan van Eyck (active  1422 - died 1441): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-portrait-of-a-man-self-portrait

We then moved on to room 14 to look at the Adoration of the Kings (1510-15) by Jan Gossaert (active 1502 - died 1532): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-gossaert-the-adoration-of-the-kings 

And finally we ended in room 34 with The Haywain (1821) by John Constable (1776 - 1837): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/john-constable-the-hay-wain

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be in the new year on Saturday 19th January at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30, I will also be giving the 10 Minute Talk at 16:00 in room 43 on the same day.  The subject will be At the Theatre (La Premiere Sortie) (1876-7) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 - 1919): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/pierre-auguste-renoir-at-the-theatre-la-premiere-sortie

artfirstprimo at the NG - afternoon tour: 11-12-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 9th December, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend.

Here is a list of those paintings:

We began in the Sainsbury wing with the two lunette painting of the Annunciation (about 1450-53): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/fra-filippo-lippi-the-annunciation and Seven Saints (about 1450-53): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/fra-filippo-lippi-seven-saints both by Fra Fillippo Lippi (born about 1406 - died 1469): 

We then looked The Introduction of the Cult of Cybele at Rome (1505 - 1506)  by Andrea Mantegna (about-1430/1-1506): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/andrea-mantegna-the-introduction-of-the-cult-of-cybele-at-rome

This was followed the work in chapel-like room 66, The Raising of Lazarus (about 1517 - 1519) by Sebastiano del Piombo (about 1485-1547): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/sebastiano-del-piombo-the-raising-of-lazarus 

We then went to room 6 where we looked at An Allegory of Love (probably about 1527 - 39) by Garofalo (about 1482 - 1559):http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/garofalo-an-allegory-of-love . 

And finally we ended in room 46 with After the Bath - Woman Drying Herself (about 1890-5) by Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas (1834 -1917): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/hilaire-germain-edgar-degas-after-the-bath-woman-drying-herself

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Friday 21st December at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30, but as it is a late night at the Gallery, there is also a late tour at 19:00.  I hope you can join me.

artfirstprimo at the NG - morning tour: 11-12-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 9th December, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend.

Here is a list of those paintings:

We began in the Sainsbury wing with The Arnolfini Portrait (1434) by Jan van Eyck (active  1422 - died 1441): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-the-arnolfini-portrait

We also looked at briefly in the same room,  The Portrait of a Man (Self-Portrait?) (1433)  by Jan van Eyck (active  1422 - died 1441): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-portrait-of-a-man-self-portrait

This was followed the work in chapel-like room 66, The Baptism of Christ (1450s) by Piero della Francesca (about 1415/20 - 1492): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/piero-della-francesca-the-baptism-of-christ 

We then went to room 24 where we looked at the Self-Portrait at the Age of 34 (1640) by Rembrandt (1606 - 1669): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/rembrandt-self-portrait-at-the-age-of-34 . 

We also briefly looked at, in room 24, the Dutch Caravaggists paintings, Christ Before the High Priest (about 1617) by Gerrit van Honthorst (1592 - 1656): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/gerrit-van-honthorst-christ-before-the-high-priest and The Concert (about 1626) by Hendrick ter Brugghen (1588 - 1629): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/hendrick-ter-brugghen-the-concert

We then moved on to room 31 to look at the Equestrian Portrait of Charles I (about 1637-38) by Anthony van Dyck (1599 -1641): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/anthony-van-dyck-equestrian-portrait-of-charles-i 

And finally we ended in room 32 with The Supper at Emmaus (1601) by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571 - 1610): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/michelangelo-merisi-da-caravaggio-the-supper-at-emmaus

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Friday 21st December at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30, but as it is a late night at Gallery there will also be a late tour at 19:00, I hope you can join me.

artfirstprimo at the NG - afternoon tour: 09-12-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 9th December, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend.

Here is a list of those paintings:

We began in the Sainsbury wing with The Crucifixion (about 1490-95) by Master of the Aachen Altarpiece (active  late15th century to early 16th century): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/master-of-the-aachen-altarpiece-the-crucifixion

We also looked at in the same room,  The Virgin and Child Enthroned, with Narrative Scenes (1260's) by Margarito of Arezzo (documented 1262): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/margarito-of-arezzo-the-virgin-and-child-enthroned-with-narrative-scenes

This was followed two works in room 9, Bacchus and Ariadne (1520-3): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/titian-bacchus-and-ariadne and The Death of Actaeon, (1559 - 75): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/titian-the-death-of-actaeon both by Titian (active about 1506 - died 1576): 

We finally we ended in room 29 with A View of Het Steen in the Early Morning (1636) by Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/peter-paul-rubens-a-view-of-het-steen-in-the-early-morning

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Tuesday 11th December at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.  I hope you can join me.

artfirstprimo at the NG - morning tour: 09-12-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 9th December, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend.

Here is a list of those paintings:

We began in the Sainsbury wing we looked at The Virgin of the Rocks (about 1491/2-9 and 1506-8) by Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/leonardo-da-vinci-the-virgin-of-the-rocks

We also looked at in the same room,  Tobias and the Angel (about 1470-75) by Workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio (about 1435 - 1488): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/workshop-of-andrea-del-verrocchio-tobias-and-the-angel 

This was followed The Madonna of the Pinks (about 1506-7) by Raphael (1483 - 1420): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/raphael-the-madonna-of-the-pinks-la-madonna-dei-garofani

We then moved on to the room 4 to look at Cupid Complaining to Venus (about 1525) by Lucas Cranch the Elder (1472 - 1553): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/lucas-cranach-the-elder-cupid-complaining-to-venus

We finally we ended in room 43 with The Beach at Trouville (1870) by Claude-Oscar Monet (1840 - 1926): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/claude-oscar-monet-the-beach-at-trouville

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Tuesday 11th December at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.  I hope you can join me.

artfirstprimo at the NG - afternoon tour: 01-11-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Thursday 1st November, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began in the Sainsbury wing looking at workshop tradition of painting in Florence of the 1470s with The Marytrdom of Saint Sebastian (1475) by Antonio and Piero del Pollaiuolo(about 1432-1498 and about 1441-1496). While here we briefly mentioned Tobias and the Angel (about 1470-75) Workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio (about 1435-1488) Madonna of the Rocks (1491/2-9 and 1506-8) Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) and The Virgin and Child with Saint John (probably about 1490-1500) David Ghirlandiao (1452-1525).  We then moved on to room 58 to look at Venus and Mars (about 1485) by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510). This was followed The Origin of the Milky Way (about 1575) by Jacopo Tintoretto (1518-1594). We then moved on to the room 30 to look at the The Toilet of Venus ('Rokeby Venus') (1647-51) by Diego Velazquez (1599-1660).  We finally we ended in room 44 with The Bathers at Asnieres (1884) by Georges Seurat (1859-1891).

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Saturday 24th November at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.  Aslo on Saturday 24th November I will be giving the ten minute talk at 16:00 in room 46, on the painting After the Bath, Woman Drying Herself (1890-95) by Hilare-Germain-Edgar Degas (1834-1917).

artfirstprimo at the NG - morning tour: 01-11-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Thursday 1st November, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began in the Sainsbury wing we looked at The Annunciation with Saint Emidius (1486) by Carlo Crivelli (about 1430/6 - about 1494). We then looked at the painting on linen,  The Entombment (probably 1450s) by Dirk Bouts (1400? - 1475). This was followed The Judgement of Paris (1632/5) by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). We then moved on to the room 32 to look at two pictures, Lot and His Daugthers Leaving Sodom (1615-16) by Guido Reni (1575-1642) and The Supper at Emmaus (1601) by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610).  We finally we ended in room 40 with Bacchus and Ariadne (probably 1700-1710) by Sebastiano Ricci (1659 - 1734).

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Saturday 24th November at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.  Aslo on Saturday 24th November I will be giving the ten minute talk at 16:00 in room 46, on the painting After the Bath, Woman Drying Herself (1890-95) by Hilare-Germain-Edgar Degas (1834-1917).

artfirstprimo at the NG - afternoon tour: 14-10-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 14th October, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began the afternoon tour with The Agony in the Garden (about 1465) by Giovanni Bellini (active about 1459; died 1516) and The Agony in the Garden (about 1458-60) by Andrea Mantegna (about 1430/1 - 1506). We then looked at another picture by  Andrea Mantegna (about 1430/1 - 1506) The Introduction of the Cult of Cybele at Rome (1505-6). This was followed by The Adoration of the Kings (1564) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (active 1550/1; died 1569).  We then moved on look at Marriage A-la-Mode: 4, The Toilette (about 1743), 4 of a series of six paintings by the English painter William Hogarth (1697 - 1764).  We finally we ended in room 44 with the The Umbrellas (1881-6) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 - 1919).

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Thursday 1st November at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.

artfirstprimo at the NG - morning tour: 14-10-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 14th October, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

After looking at the archictecture of the Sainsbury wing we looked at how some pictures in the Sainsbury Wing work with the architecture beginning with The Incredulity of Saint Thomas (about 1502-4) by Giovanni Basttista Cima da Conegliano (about 1459/60 - about 1517/18). We then looked at the a picture given its own room in the Sainsbury Wing,  The Baptism of Christ (1450s) by Piero della Francesca (about 1415/20 - 1492). While here we also briefly saw in the same room other works by Piero della Francesca, including, Saint Micheal (completed 1469) and The Nativity (1470-75). This was followed by the small oil on limewood painting of Saint Jerome in his Study (about 1475) by Antonello da Messina (active 1456; died 1479). The paintings hung on either side of this, also by Antonello da Messina, were, Christ Blessing (apparently dated 1465) and Christ Crucified (1475).  We then moved on to the recently re-hung room 9 in the main building to look at two pictures by the old and young Titian, Bacchus and Ariadne (1520-23) The Death of Acteaon (1559-75) both by Titian (active about 1506; died 1576).  We finally we ended in room 44 with the only representation of a Finnish painter in the National Gallery's collection, Lake Keitele (1905) by Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865 - 1931).

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Thursday 1st November at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.

artfirstprimo at the NG - afternoon tour: 10-10-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Wednesday 10th October, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began with: The Battle of San Romano (probably about 1438-40) by Paolo Uccello (about 1397 - 1475). We then looked at,  La Madonna della Rondine - The Madonna of the Swallow(after 1490) by Carlo Crivelli (about 1430/5 - 1494). While here we also briefly looked another Carlo Crivelli piece The Annunciation, with Saint Eumidius (1486). We then moved on to room 9 in the main building to look at The Death of Actaeon (about 1559-75) by Titian (active about 1506 - 1576).  While here we also briefly compared this another Titian piece, newly hung in this room, Bacchus and Ariadne (1520-23). This was followed visit to room 6 to look at An Allegory of Love (probably about 1527-39), by Garofalo (about 1481-1559), and we finally we ended in room 45 with Sunflowers (1888) by Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890).

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Sunday 14th October at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.  Also on this day I will be conducting a 10 minute talk at 16:00 in room 21 on River Landscape with Horseman and Peasants (about 1658-60) by Aelbert Cuyp (1620 - 1691) 

artfirstprimo at the NG - morning tour: 10-10-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Wednesday 10th October, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began with: The Virgin of the Rocks (about 1491/2-9 and 1506-8) by Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519). We then looked three pictures,  Annunciation, Healing of a Man Born Blind and Transfiguration (all 1307/8-11) by Duccio (active 1278; died 1319). While here we also briefly looked at other partially dismembered altarpieces, such as the Santa Croce Altarpiece (1324-25) by Ugolino di Nerio (active 1317; died 1339/49?). We then moved on to room 29 in the main building to look at Minerva protects Pax from Mars ('Peace and War') (1629-30) by Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640).  This was followed the mysterious Toilet of Venus ('The Rokeby Venus') (1647-51), by Diego Velaquez (1699-1660) We finally we ended in room 43 with Bathers at La Grenouillère (1869) by Claude-Oscar Monet (1840 - 1926).

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Sunday 14th October at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.  Also on this day I will be conducting a 10 minute talk at 16:00 in room 21 on River Landscape with Horseman and Peasants (about 1658-60) by Aelbert Cuyp (1620 - 1691) 

Introduction to Art at Imperial College, London

Starting on 17th October this brand new twenty week introductory course presents an opportunity to explore a wide variety of European art from early Byzantine through to late Victorian and Impressionism. The course aims to encourage in participants a dialogue regarding the varied varieties of art and the appreciation thereof. The structure will be that of a broadly chronological and geographical approach, which will take in key movements, styles and artists, with some classes devoted exclusively to artists such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, and many more. No prior knowledge of art history is required.

Enrolment information:

www3.imperial.ac.uk/humanities/eveningclasses/enrolmentinformation

Website:

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/humanities/eveningclasses/coursesavailable

artfirstprimo forthcoming free tours and talks at the NG

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Wednesday 10^th October 2012, at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.

I will also be giving guided tours at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30 on Sunday 14^th October.  Following this I will also be giving a Ten Minute talk on River Landscape with Horseman and Peasants (about 1658-60), by Aelbert Cuyp (1620 - 1691) in room 21 at 16:00 also on Sunday 14^th October.

These will be followed by guided tours of the National Gallery on Thursday 1st November at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.

And finally I will also be giving more guided tours at the usual times again of 11:30 and 14:30, on Sunday 24^th November 2012.  Following this I will also be giving a Ten Minute talk on After the Bath, Woman Drying Herself (about 1890-95), by Hiaire-Germain-Edgar Degas (1834 - 1917) in room 46 at 16:00 also on Sunday 24^th November 2012.

artfirstprimo at the NG - afternoon tour: 23-09-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 23^rd September, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began with: The Virgin and Child (1426) by Masaccio (1401 - 1428/9?). We briefly compared this to The Quaratesi Madonna (1425), in the same room by Gentile da Fabriano (about 1385 - 1427).  We then looked at the portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan (1501-2) by Giovanni Bellini (active about 1459; died 1516). We then on moved to room 5 to look at The Crucifixion, a triptych (about 1510) by the unknown artist referred to as the Master of Delft (active early 16th century).  After this, it was through to room 4 to look at Cupid complaining to Venus (about 1525) by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472 - 1553), and we finally ended in room 44 with the ethereal image of Lake Keitele (1905) by the only Finish artist in The National Gallery’s collection, Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865 - 1931).

I will be posting news regarding the October and November dates of my next guided tours of the National Gallery, which will be at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.

artfirstprimo at the NG - morning tour: 23-09-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 23^rd September, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began with: A Satyr mourning over a Nymph (about 1495) by Piero di Cosimo (1462 - 1522). We briefly mentioned wedding chest or Cassoni in the same room, with an image of The Story of the Schoolmaster of Falerii (late 15th century), attributed to the Master of Marradi (active in Tuscany in the late 15th century).  We then looked at The Virgin and Child Enthroned, with Narrative Scenes (1260s) by Margarito of Arezzo (documented 1262). We then on moved to room 9 to look at one of a series of four paintings originally intended for ceilings in Venetian palazzos, the first called Happy Union (about 1575) by Paolo Veronese (1528 - 1588).  The others in the series that we did not look at) were: Respect, Scorn and Unfaithfulness (all about 1575). After this, it was through to room 34 to look at The Cornfield (1826) by John Constable (1776- 1837), we also briefly looked at Constable’s masterpiece, The Hay Wain (1821) and we finally ended in room 41 with The Execution of Lady Jane Grey (1833) by Paul Delaroche (1841 - 1919).

I will be posting news regarding the October and November dates my next guided tours of the National Gallery, which will be at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.

artfirstprimo at the NG - afternoon tour: 26-08-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 26th August, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began with: The Fight between the Lapiths and the Centaurs (probably 1500-15) by Piero di Cosimo (1462 - 1522). We briefly mentioned wedding chest or Cassoni in the same room, with an image of The Story of the Schoolmaster of Falerii (late 15th century), attributed to the Master of Marradi (active in Tuscany in the late 15th century).  We then looked at Portrait of a Man (about 1475-6) by Antonello da Messina (active 1456; died 1479); briefly mentioning: Portrait of a Man (1497), by Alvise Vivarini (living 1457; died 1503/5) and Portrait of an Elderly Man (1487) by Francesco Bonsignori (1455/60? - 1519?), all in the same room. We then on moved to room 31 in to look at Equestrian Portrait of Charles I (about 1637-8) by Anthony van Dyck (1599 - 1641).  After this, it was through to room 36 to look at Mrs Oswald (about 1763-4) by Johann Zoffany (1733? - 1810), and we finally ended in room 44 with The Umbrellas (about 1881-6) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 - 1919).

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Sunday 23^rd September at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.

artfirstprimo at the NG - morning tour: 26-08-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 26th August, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began with: Tobias and the Angel (about 1470-5) by Workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio (about 1435 - 1488). We briefly mentioned an altarpiece in the same room, called the The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian (completed 1475), by Antonio del Pollaiuolo (about 1432 - 1498) and Piero del Pollaiuolo (about 1441 - before 1496).  We then looked at a picture in a state of deterioration, the oil on linen painting of The Entombment (probably 1450s) by Dirk Bouts (active about 1459; died 1516). We then moved on to room 9 in the main building to look at one of four unexplainable ceiling paintings called Happy Union (about 1575) by Paolo Veronese (1528 - 1588).  The others in the same room that we did not look at were: Unfaithfulness, Scorn, and Respect. This was followed the highly influential Seaport with the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba (1648), by Claude Gellée Lorraine (1604/5? - 1682), we also compared this briefly to Dido building Carthage (1815), by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775 - 1851).  After this, it was through to room 29 to look at Minerva protects Pax from Mars ('Peace and War') (1629-30) by Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640), and finally we ended in room 14 with The Adoration of the Kings (1510-15) by Jan Gossaert (active 1503; died 1532).

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Sunday 23^rd September at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.

Home is where the art is The Voice Newspaper interview

How one man went from problem child to an authority on early Renaissance and Medieval paintings at one of Britain’s finest museums.

 

There is a common assumption that the art world is the domain of an elite few – those who have enjoyed a privileged and cultured upbringing or an expensive education. Art historian Leslie Primo is different.

“My mother didn’t even know what an art gallery was,” says Primo, who grew up in south London. He does concede, however, that the majority of his peers do fit the stereotype.

Yet despite humble beginnings, Primo has spent the past 12 years immersed in this world of art, working his way up from a cashier in the National Gallery’s gift shop, to his current position as a lecturer specialising in early Renaissance and medieval art. It was a journey he started as a young boy and the road has not been without its challenges.

The young man of Guyanese heritage left school with no formal qualifications. He spent many years flirting with professions that included music production and photography.

Primo even spent a year in Japan where he studied the language.

As he sits beneath Peter Paul Rubens’ The Judgment of Paris in Room 29 at central London’s National Gallery, Primo explains how a hobby turned into a career.

“Going into galleries was something I did in my spare time, after work or at weekends,” he says.

As his knowledge grew, he started taking friends on informal tours in exchange for a lunch. Making the transition from amateur to professional seemed a natural step. “The art world is all about knowledge,” Primo points out. “The more you know, the more respected you are.”

Considering where the 46 year-old began, it is remarkable where he is now, especially when you see him in action. Like any good storyteller, he pulls his audience in and guides them through the paintings as if they were real characters. “What we can see in the paintings are the things that people really do,” Primo explains. “People get sad; people die; people deceive each other. That whole gamut of human emotion is in paintings, and those emotions have not changed over the centuries.”

Primo could be describing his own experience from his paintings, given what he says was a difficult childhood which earned him the label ‘the problem child’.

Excluded from primary school, and enrolled in a correctional school as a teenager, Primo admits to being a disruptive influence.

He recalls one particular fight with a fellow pupil. “I tore a large clump of hair from his head, which was then put into an envelope by the boy’s mother and sent with a letter to my mother,” he remembers with a shake of his head.

There are two major reasons why Primo became disenfranchised with the education system: domestic violence and dyslexia. “I had a violent step-father and the violence did happen quite a lot,” he says. “It was mostly my mother who was attacked, but sometimes it was me as well.”

MEMORABLE: Allegory of Venus and Cupid by Bronzino was the painting that attracted Primo to the art world as a boy

It was a school trip to the National Gallery that opened his eyes to the possibilities of the art world. “I saw a picture that I liked. I didn’t know who the artist was, and I had no idea what the picture was of, but I liked the colours. When I came back years later as an adult, I was looking for that picture and eventually I found it.” The painting was Allegory of Venus and Cupid by Bronzino. It took Primo at least 20 visits to find, but he never gave up.

Primo is not a man who is easily deterred. After deciding to study art history, he won a place at Birkbeck University without any of the prerequisite qualifications. He supported himself through part-time work at the National Gallery’s gift shop to cover the fees. “It was convenient”, says Primo. “I didn’t need qualifications in art history – I just needed to be able to work a cash register.”

The hard work paid off. Primo was offered a lecturing position at the gallery before he had even officially graduated.

When Primo talks about his profession his words are imbued with a sense of destiny, as though he is fulfilling a calling. And he is a rather distinctive figure: a black man from a non-privileged background, excelling in a world seemingly controlled by rich white men.

“For a very long time, there were no other lecturers who looked like me,” Primo reveals. On one occasion he was recognised by a man whose daughter had been lectured by a black art historian. Primo told him: “It must be me, because there are no other lecturers in the National Gallery who are black.”

But Primo prefers to concentrate on intrinsic merits. “For me it’s not about being black, it’s about being able to be good at what you do.”

However, there is a small part of him that is proud of his position: “There is a uniqueness about it, obviously and one can say, you feel somewhat special. You do feel you’re doing something that’s going to make a difference. I hope it will encourage other people from my sort of background or ethnicity to come to the gallery.

“I get very rare opportunities to do that, because it is not often you see faces like mine as visitors. When they are here, I do my utmost to make them feel they should be here.”

Primo attributes the lack of interest to the absence of black representations in art.
“I think many in the black community have a problem with that. They come in and think, ‘there are no black faces, it’s all about white people, why should I go there?’”

Without doubt, Primo believes this attitude is wrong and argues that there is something for anyone in the human stories that art conveys: “Those emotions apply to anybody, be they black or white.”

Primo has not forgotten his distressing childhood memories, but has managed to mould a career worthy of acclaim, one that bears no reflection of his troubled past. Only the dyslexia, diagnosed in 2003 while he was at university, lingers.

In art, Primo has found somewhere he feels he belongs. “I’m perfectly at home and comfortable in galleries wherever they are in the world.”

Unsurprising for one who believes art and life are one and the same.

The Renaissance expert comes to a conclusion: “Art tends to not pay any heed to transient things. Somehow good art rises above the here and now, and has a resonance that continues throughout the centuries.”

The large paintings in room 29 seem to stir in the fading light.

“Art is a mirror of our society at whichever point in time that mirror is set up.”
As a boy he may have once pulled out a few strands of hair.

As a man, Primo helps pull back the curtains over these mirrors offering people a glimpse of past stories in all their splendour.

Interviewed and Written by Bart Chan
16/08/2012 04:15 PM

Follow the link below for the story and video interview:

http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/home-where-art-0

artfirstprimo at the NG - afternoon tour: 16-08-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 5th August, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began with: various pieces from a dismembered altarpiece by Ugolino di Nerio (active 1317; died 1339/49?) known as  The Santa Croce Altarpiece (about 1324-5). We also compared this briefly to another dismembered altarpiece in the same room, on the adjacent wall, which was originally called the  Maestà (1307/8-11), by Duccio (active 1278; died 1319).  We then looked at the extraordinary oil on poplar painting of Doge Leonardo Loredan (1501-2) by the Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini (active about 1459; died 1516). We then moved room 19 in the north of the Gallery to look at the mysterious Landscape with a Man killed by a Snake (probably 1648) by Nicolas Poussin (1594 - 1665). This was followed the Caravaggio influenced Christ before the High Priest (about 1617), by the Dutch ‘master of light’, Gerrit van Honthorst (1592 - 1656), we also compared this briefly to another Dutch ‘master of light’, The Concert (about 1626), by Hendrick ter Brugghen (1588 - 1629), and also Belshazzar's Feast (about 1636-8) by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606 - 1669). After this, it was over to the east-wing of the Gallery to look at Impressionism with two works in room 43: The Thames below Westminster (about 1871) and The Gare St-Lazare (1877) both by Claude-Oscar Monet (1840 - 1926), and finally ended in room 45 with the explosion of colour that is the Sunflowers (1888) by Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890).

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Sunday 26^th August at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30, and I will also be giving a Ten Minute talk on Lady Cockburn and Her Three Eldest Sons (1773), by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723 - 1792) in room 34 at 16:00 also on Sunday 26^th August.

artfirstprimo at the NG - morning tour: 16-08-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 5th August, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began with: The Wilton Diptych (about 1395-9), English or French (?). We also compared this briefly to a central panel in the same room called Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven (about 1423-4) by Fra Angelico (active 1417; died 1455), both images exhibited a flag of the Resurrection.  We then looked at La Madonna della Rondine (The Madonna of the Swallow) (after 1490) by Carlo Crivelli (about 1430/5 - about 1494), with its image of St George and St Jerome as a cardinal in red. Moving to room 9 we looked at two paintings: Mars and Venus (about 1590) by Palma Giovane (1554 - 1628). This was followed The Rape of Ganymede (about 1575), attributed to Damiano Mazza (active 1573). We then took an unscheduled detour to look at Bacchus and Ariadne (probably 1700-10) by Sebastiano Ricci (1659 - 1734), and finally ended in room 34 with An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (1768), by Joseph Wright 'of Derby' (1734 - 1797).

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Sunday 26^th August at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30, and I will also be giving a Ten Minute talk on Lady Cockburn and Her Three Eldest Sons (1773), by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723 - 1792) in room 34 at 16:00 also on Sunday 26^th August.

artfirstprimo at the NG - afternoon tour: 05-08-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 5th August, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began with: triptych altarpiece by Master of the Aachen Altarpiece (active late 15th to early 16th century), The Crucifixion, (about 1490-5). We then looked at Penelope with the Suitors (about 1509) by Bernardino di Betto of Perugia, called Pintoricchio  (active 1481; died 1513). Moving to room 8 we looked at to look at The Raising of Lazarus (about 1517-19) by Sebastiano del Piombo (about 1485 - 1547). This was followed An Allegory of Love (probably about 1527-39), by Garofalo (about 1481 - 1559). We finally ended in room 45 with The Sunflowers (1888), by Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890).

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Thursday 16^th August at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.

artfirstprimo at the NG - morning tour: 05-08-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 5th August, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began with: altarpiece by Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519), The Virgin of the Rocks, (about 1491/2-9 and 1506-8) commissioned by the Milanese Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception for their oratory in San Francesco in 1480, followed by a new contract drawn up in 1483. We then looked at the three predella panels from the dismembered altarpiece, the Maestà by Duccio (active 1278; died 1319) The Healing of the Man born Blind, The Transfiguration and The Annunciation all dated (1307/8-11). We then moved to room 12 to look at Bacchus and Ariadne (1520-3) by Tiziano Vecellio, called Titian (active about 1506; died 1576). This was followed by a look at number 4 panel from the Marriage A-la-Mode series, The Toilette (about 1743), by William Hogarth (1697 - 1764). We finally ended in room 34 with Rain, Steam, and Speed - The Great Western Railway (1844), by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775 - 1851).

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Thursday 16^th August at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30.

artfirstprimo at the NG - afternoon tour: 29-07-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 29th July, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began with: a painting, one of two by Francesco Pesellino (1422 - 1457), depicting The Story of David and Goliath, (about 1445-55) they were probably commissioned for a pair of marriage chests, usually called cassone. We then looked at and example of a cassone in room 58 with an image painted on the side depicting The Story of the Schoolmaster of Falerii (late 15th century) attributed to Master of Marradi. Hanging above this we looked at a painting called A Satyr mourning over a Nymph (1495) by Piero di Cosimo (1462 - 1522). The painting probably served as a spalliera (a backboard for a bench or chest), or as part of the panelling in a Florentine palace. This was followed by a look at The Madonna of the Pinks ('La Madonna dei Garofani') (about 1506-7), by Raphael (Raffaello Santi) (1483 - 1520). In room 4 we made a close examination of Cupid complaining to Venus (about 1525) by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472 - 1553). We finally ended in room 46 with Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando (1879), by Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas (1843 - 1917).

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Sunday 5^th August at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30, and I will also be giving a Ten Minute talk on Lady Cockburn and Her Three Eldest Sons (1773), by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723 - 1792) in room 34 at 16:00 also on Sunday 5^th August.

artfirstprimo forthcoming free tours and talks at the NG

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Sunday 5^th August at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30, and I will also be giving a Ten Minute talk on Lady Cockburn and Her Three Eldest Sons (1773), by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723 - 1792) in room 34 at 16:00 also on Sunday 5^th August 2012.

I will also be giving guided tours at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30, on Thursday 16th August 2012.

These will be followed by guided tours of the National Gallery on Sunday 26th August at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30, and I will also be giving the same Ten Minute talk (if you missed it on Sun 5th Aug) on Lady Cockburn and Her Three Eldest Sons (1773), by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723 - 1792) in room 34 at 16:00 also on Sunday 26th August 2012.

And finally I will also be giving more guided tours at the usual times again of 11:30 and 14:30, on Sunday 23rd September 2012.

artfirstprimo at the NG - morning tour: 29-07-12

Welcome back art lovers. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery, London offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30; leaving from the new part of the building - The Sainsbury Wing, just next to the main shop. National Gallery's Permanent Collection consists of over 2,500 paintings.

I hope that those of you, who were able to attend my free guided tour at the National Gallery today, Sunday 29th July, enjoyed the choice of paintings. But if you missed them or just want a reminded of which pictures we looked at so you can visit them again with a friend. Here is a list of those paintings:

We began with: a painting, by Jan van Eyck (active 1422; died 1441), The Arnolfini Portrait, (1434) we then looked at The Wilton Diptych (1395-9) by Anonymous French or English? This was followed by a look at The Adoration of the Kings (1554), by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (active 1550/1; died 1569). In room 31 we surveyed the vast Equestrian Portrait of Charles I (about 1637-8) by Anthony van Dyck (1599 - 1641). We finally ended with Psyche showing her Sisters her Gifts from Cupid (1753), by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732 - 1806)

My next guided tours of the National Gallery will be on Sunday 5^th August at the usual times of 11:30 and 14:30, and I will also be giving a Ten Minute talk on Lady Cockburn and Her Three Eldest Sons (1773), by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723 - 1792) in room 34 at 16:00 also on Sunday 5^th August.

My new one day course on Leonardo da Vinci is now available at the Bishopsgate Institute: 18-08-12

Art History & Appreciation: Leonardo Da Vinci

Francesco Melzi, attributed to (Portrait of Leonardo in profile, c.1515-18) Royal Collection

Speculations regarding the true life and meanings of Leonardo’s works have been rife for centuries, indeed books such as the Da Vinci Code only serve to confirm this continued interest.  Yet what do we really know about this enigmatic Renaissance master.  An understanding of the times and motivations of Leonardo will ultimately unravel this mystery.

This one-day course aims to provide the student with an insight into the life of the great Renaissance masters and ultimately an understanding of his works through the historical and social context within which this artist worked.  This will be achieved by looking at his early career and influences including his training and working methods, and the stylistic similarities or differences in his works. 

We will begin by focusing on Leonardo’s early life and tutelage in the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio.  We will then examining his earliest commissions and how these might have shaped his future work.  Later we shall look at Leonardo’s life of invention and fascination by all living things including the mechanics of flight.  We will then move on to looking at Leonardo’s patrons and his fascination with the Madonna and Child grouping and portraits.  And finally all these parts of Leonardo’s life will be framed by looking at his career through his peripatetic existence which finally ended in France.

Course suitable for all

with Leslie Primo

16 students maximum

£45 /£34 conc. for 1 sessions

Saturday 10.30pm – 5.30pm

18 August 2012

Bishopsgate Institute

My new one day course on Iconography and Iconology is now available at the Bishopsgate Institute: 25-08-12

Iconography and Iconology: Secrets of Old Masters Revealed

Bronzino (Allegory of Venus and Cupid, 1540-50) National Gallery

Ever wondered whether there’s a hidden meaning behind paintings, in this course we’ll discover why signs and symbols are in paintings, and reveal how to find and interpret their meanings in paintings from medieval to Baroque and beyond.

This course will give the tools to crack the hidden codes behind paintings in any art gallery and indentify the seemingly mysterious figures in these great works of art. 

This one day intensive course aims to look at the stories, which are often re-told in secular and religious painting mostly Italian Renaissance painting around, 1400-1600.  Most often the stories came from antique literary sources, which had survived through the middle ages and were the preserve of the rich and cultured.

We recognise the stories told by interpreting, signs and symbols, also known as the Iconography and Iconology, as well as recognising ‘types’ in the paining.  Why were these subjects so popular? Were paintings merely illustrations of the text or did they carry some deeper meaning? How did artists such as Botticelli, Pintoricchio, Titian and Tintoretto approach these subjects?  From mythology to religious art, all will be revealed in this course.

Course suitable for all

with Leslie Primo

16 students maximum

£45 /£34 conc. for 1 sessions

Saturday 10.30pm – 5.30pm

25 August 2012

Bishopsgate Institute