artfirstprimo at the NG - the 14:30-15:30 Weds afternoon tour: 25-09-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30. Also on weekends there is an additional tour at 16:00, and on the Friday night late opening there is a later tour at 19:00.  All tours leave 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, Wednesday 25th 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 in the afternoon tour in room 63 looking at The Donne Triptych (about 1478), by the Northern Renaissance Painter Hans Memling (active 1465 - 1494).

We then moved on to room 51, of the Sainsbury wing, to look at The Virgin and Child Enthroned with Narrative Scenes (probably about 1263-4) by the little known craftsman called Margarito d'Arezzo (documented 1262).

Crossing into the main building we then went to room 29 where we saw a late landscape called A View of Het Steen in the Early Morning (probably 1636) by Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640).

This was followed by visit to room 41 where we saw the colourful and dramatic The Execution of Lady Jane Grey (1833), by Paul Delaroche (1797 - 1856).

Finally we ended in room 44 with the fantasy of Surprised! (1891) by Henri Rousseau (1844 - 1910).


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be:

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Sat 5th Oct - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30 and 16:00 - 17:00).

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Sat 30th Nov - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30 and 16:00 - 17:00).

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 11:30-12:30 Weds morning tour: 25-09-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30. Also on weekends there is an additional tour at 16:00, and on the Friday night late opening there is a later tour at 19:00.  All tours leave 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, Wednesday 25th 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 in the morning tour in room 65 looking at The Painter's Father (1497), attributed to Albrecht Durer (1471 - 1528).

We then moved on to room 64, of the Sainsbury wing, to look at The Crucifixion Altarpiece (about 1490-95) by an unknown artist we have called The Master of the Aachen Altarpiece (Active late 15th century to early 16th century).

Crossing into the main building we then went to room 10 where we saw the late masterpiece The Death of Actaeon (1559-75) by Titian (active about 1506; died 1576).

This was followed by visit to room 5 where we saw the strangely compelling An Old Woman (The Ugly Duchess) (about 1513), by Quinten Massys (1465 - 1530).

Finally we ended in room 34 with two paintings Rain, Steam and Speed - The Great Western Railway (1844) and The Fighting Temeraire (1839), both by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775 - 1851).


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be:

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Sat 5th Oct - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30 and 16:00 - 17:00).

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Sat 30th Nov - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30 and 16:00 - 17:00).

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 16:00-17:00 early evening tour: 15-09-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30. Also on weekends there is an additional tour at 16:00, and on the Friday night late opening there is a later tour at 19:00.  All tours leave 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, Sunday 15th 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 in the early evening tour in room 54 looking at The Annunciation (about 1450 -53), by Fra Filippo Lippi (born about 1406 - died 1469). While here we looked at the pendant piece also by Fra Filippo Lippi the Seven Saints (about 1450 -53), also in this room we looked at The Story of David and Goliath (about 1445 - 55) by Francesco Pesellino (1422 - 1457) and the Triumph of David (about 1445 - 55), also by Francesco Pesellino (1422 - 1457).

We then moved on to room 56, of the Sainsbury wing, to look at the enigmatic and mysterious Arnolfini Portrait (1434), by Jan van Eyck (active 1422 - died 1441).

Crossing into the main building we then went to room 8 where we saw The Raising of Lazarus (1517-19) by Sebastiano del Piombo (about 1485 - 1547).

This was followed by visit to room 6 where we saw An Allegory of Love (probably about 1527-39), by Garofalo (1481 - 1559).

Finally we ended in room 44 with Lake Keitele (1905), by Akseli-Gallen-Kallela (1865 - 1931).


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be:

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Wed 25th Sept - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30).

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 11:30-12:30 morning tour: 15-09-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30. Also on weekends there is an additional tour at 16:00, and on the Friday night late opening there is a later tour at 19:00.  All tours leave 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, Sunday 15th 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 in the morning tour in room 57 looking at The Fight Between the Lapthis and the Centuars (probably 1500 -15), by Piero di Cosimo (about 1462 - 1522).

We then moved on to room 58, of the Sainsbury wing, to look at A Satyr mourning over a Nymph (about 1495), another painting by Piero di Cosimo (about 1462 - 1522). While here we also looked at this Cassone called The Story of the School Master of Falerii (late 15th century)  attributed to the Master of Marradi

Crossing into the main building we then went to room 14 where we saw an Adoration of the Kings (1564) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (active 1550/1; died 1569).

This was followed by visit to room 30 where we saw the Rokeby Venus (1647-51), by Diego Velazquez (1599 - 1660).

Then it was on to room 41 to see the dramatic Execution of Lady Jane Grey (1833) by Paul Delaroche (1797 - 1856).

Finally we ended in room 43 with Execution of Maximilian (1867-1868), by Edouard Manet (1832 - 1883).


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be:

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Wed 25th Sept - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30).

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 14:30-15:30 afternoon tour: 15-09-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30. Also on weekends there is an additional tour at 16:00, and on the Friday night late opening there is a later tour at 19:00.  All tours leave 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, Sunday 15th 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 in the afternoon tour in room 59 looking at La Madonna della Rondine (The Madonna of the Swallow) (after 1490), by Carlo Crivelli (about 1430/5 - about 1494)

We then moved on to room 62, of the Sainsbury wing, to look The Agony in the Garden (about 1465), by Giovanni Bellini (about 1459 - died 1516): While here we also looked at The Agony in the Garden (1458-60)  Andrea Mantegna (1430/1 - 1506)

Crossing into the main building we then went to room 12 where we saw Bacchus and Ariadne (1520-3) by Titian (active about 1506; died 1576)

This was followed by visit to room 35 where we saw one of a series of six paintings all called Marriage-A-la-Mode, the one we looked at was Marriage-A-la-Mode: 4, The Toilette (1743), all paintings by William Hogarth (1697 - 1764) 

Finally we ended in room 34 with The Hay Wain (1821), by John Constable (1876 - 1837)


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be:

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Wed 25th Sept - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30).

Masters of the Renaissance: Leonardo and Michelangelo

 

artfirstprimo takes you on a journey to discover who is the real Leonardo and who is the real Michelangelo?  In this definitive 10 week course, at the City Lit, Covent Garden, fact is separated from fiction, revelation from speculation as we devote 5 weeks to each these great Renaissance masters.  We find out what they really thought about the art they produced and about each other.  Did they achieve all they wanted to in their lifetimes, did they find fame and fortune in their lifetimes?  Just how much did Michelangelo get paid to fresco the Sistine Chapel ceiling, why did Leonardo fall out so spectacularly with the Pope? Why did both artists leave so many works unfinished? One thing for sure your next visit to an art gallery will be changed, because you will never look at these artists in the same way again when you find out the truth and the facts behind these legendary Masters of the Renaissance.

Places still available on this course, which runs from September 26th - November 28th:

Masters of the Renaissance - City lit link here

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 16:00-17:00 early evening tour: 31-08-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30. Also on weekends there is an additional tour at 16:00, and on the Friday night late opening there is a later tour at 19:00.  All tours leave 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, Saturday 31st 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 in room 61 of the Sainsbury wing with sculpture-like painting called The Introduction of the Cult of Cybele at Rome (1505-6),by the professor of the antique, Andrea Mantegna (1430/1 - 1503): National Gallery web link here 

We then moved on to room 60, to look the painting that was not a painting, the fresco of Penelope with the Suitors (about 1509),by Pintoricchio (active 1481 - died 1513): National Gallery web link here

Crossing into the main building we then went to room 29 where we looked at one of the eight versions of The Judgement of Paris (probably 1632-5),by the wealthy and famous painter in his lifetime the Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640): National Gallery web link here

This was followed by visit to room 32 where we looked at The Supper at Emmaus (1601), by violent and controversial Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610): National Gallery web link here 

Finally we ended in room 44 with a modern masterpiece called Bathers at Asnières (1884), by Georges Seurat (1859 - 1891): National Gallery web link here


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be:

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Sun 15th Sept - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30 and 16:00 -17:00)

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Wed 25th Sept - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30).

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 14:30-15:30 afternoon tour: 31-08-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30. Also on weekends there is an additional tour at 16:00, and on the Friday night late opening there is a later tour at 19:00.  All tours leave 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, Saturday 31st 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 in the very small, chapel-like room 66 of the Sainsbury wing with the Baptism of Christ (1450s) by Piero della Francesca (about 1415/20 - 1492): National Gallery web link here 

We then moved on to room 63, to look the unique and fragile painting on linen called The Entombment (probably 1450s), by the Northern Renaissance painter Dirk Bouts (1400?-1475): National Gallery web link here

Crossing into the main building we then went to room 9 where we saw The Origin of the Milky Way (about 1575), by Jacopo Tintoretto (1518-1519): National Gallery web link here

This was followed by visit to the nearby room 8 where we saw the rather controversial An Allegory with Venus and Cupid (about 1545),by Bronzino (1503 -1572): National Gallery web link here 

Finally we ended in room 4 with the rather magisterial full-length double portrait called The Ambassadors (1533), by Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/8 - 1543): National Gallery web link here


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be:

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Sun 15th Sept - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30 and 16:00 -17:00)

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Wed 25th Sept - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30).

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 11:30-12:30 morning tour: 31-08-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery offers free lecture tours everyday at the same times of 11:30 and 14:30. Also on weekends there is an additional tour at 16:00, and on the Friday night late opening there is a later tour at 19:00.  All tours leave 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, Saturday 31st 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 in the morning tour in room 57 looking principally of The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian (completed 1475), by the brothers Antonio del Pollaiuolo (about 1432 - 1498) and Piero del Pollaiuolo (about 1441 - before 1496). Also mentioned in the same room was Tobias and the Angel (about 1470-5), by Workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio and The Virgin of the Rocks (about 1491/2-9 and 1506-8), by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519): National Gallery web link here

We then moved on to room 58, of the Sainsbury wing, to look Venus and Mars (about 1485), by Sandro Botticelli (about 1445 - 1510). While here this Cassone with a Tournament Scene (probably about 1455-65),by an unknown Italian, Florentine was also mentioned: National Gallery web link here

Crossing into the main building we then went to room 14 where we saw an Adoration of the Kings (1510 - 1515) by Jan Gossaert (active 1503; died 1532): National Gallery web link here

This was followed by visit to room 5 where we saw the triptych panels including The Crucifixion: Central Panel (about 1510),all by the mysterious Master of Delft (active early 16th century): National Gallery web link here 

Finally we ended in room 46 with an example of modern painting, Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando (1879), by Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas (1834 - 1917): National Gallery web link here


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be:

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Sun 15th Sept - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30 and 16:00 -17:00)

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Wed 25th Sept - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30).

artfirstprimo at the Barber Institute of Art, Birmingham

Today I've been visiting the small, but perfectly formed Barber Institute of Art, Birmingham, and here are my highlights of this collection:

My first highlight is a tiny and exquisite triptych made in the late 14th century by an unknown Italian artist that seems as though it has been captured and pressed into a frame as though a bird in a gilded cage. However, the incredible decorative effects achieved by this unknown craftsman have not been subdued by its capture. The delicate stippling and decorative colour effects behind the Virgin and Christ Child sing out from this tiny painting. The painting not only features the Baptist and a rather hairy Magdalene in the left and right wings respectively, but this tiny painting also features an even smaller Annunciation in top register of each wing. The jewel-like quality of this work reminds one of the jewel-like quality of another piece also by an unknown craftsman and also from the same period in the National Gallery - the Wilton Diptych.

Next on my highlights list two small panels again by an unknown craftsman, but formerly attributed to the Master of the Judgement of Paris. In the panels we see the age old story of man in pursuit of reluctant woman played out in the Greek myth of Apollo and Daphne, in two panels by an unknown Italian artist or artists. The pure simplicity of the depictions in these panels (possibly made to adorn a marriage chest, i.e. cassone) certainly contribute to their supposedly innocent charm, they are indeed beautifully executed panels; most likely egg-tempera on poplar wood. However, one can't help thinking that Daphne's solution, suggested by the gods, to escape the arms of Apollo by turning herself into a tree, seems to be giving credence to the age old myth that women who do not give themselves freely to men must be frigid though made of wood.

However, just along the wall is an artist who is named - Sandro Botticelli (1445 - 1510). Botticelli's distinctive and unusual style (and that of his workshop) is unmistakable, and so to is the figure of Simonetta Vespucci cast here as the Virgin. This muse and inspiration seems to appear over and over again in Botticelli's most famous works, such as the Uffizi's La Primavera (painted between 1477 and 1482), the Birth of Venus (painted between 1482 and 1485) and the National Gallery's Venus and Mars (painted about 1485), and in this case the not so well known work the Barber's collection - the Madonna and Child with the Infant St John the Baptist (1490s). The delicacy of painting, emotion and complexity of composition, along with perfect execution of diaphanous materials is a joy to behold and surly transports one to that strange place called Botticelli world. 

Another great highlight from this great collection is a work by Jacopo Bassano (active about 1535; died 1592). Bassano's Adoration of the Magi is, as one would expect of this subject, a truly sumptuous affair. The handling of paint to create the beautiful and colourful robes of the kings is marvellous. One of the most skillful aspects of this work is the superb fore-shortening of the horse with its backside emerging from the painting on the right side of the canvas. But curiously the position of the horse with its backside in our faces is echoed by the eldest Magi, Caspar, who is seen knelling in the centre foreground. 

The next painting is one that I know well, but have never seen in the flesh as it were - the masterpiece by Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1671- 1682). No photograph can do justice to Murillio's - The Marriage Feast at Cana, it must be seen live. The still life arrangement of the water vases and figures in the foreground literally emerge out of the canvas and handling of textures such as clothes and ceramic of the vases is sublime and tangible. The painting itself is sensitively lit and is hung at just the right height to take full advantage of Murillio's extraordinary powers of illusion. Indeed so good is the effect that one might imagine they can almost enter this sumptuous scene. These same powers of illusion are also on show in Murillo's self-portrait at the National Gallery (probably 1670-3).

If you want to catch me talking about paintings in the National Gallery, here's how you can do it:

Free tours at the National Gallery:

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Sat 31st Aug - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30 and 16:00 - 17:00)

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Sun 15th Sept - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30 and 16:00 -17:00)

Guided Tours - National Gallery - meet at: Sainsbury wing next to main shop - (Wed 25th Sept - 11:30 - 12:30 and 14:30 - 15:30).

Art First Primo Bringing Art to You and You to Art

Leslie Primo currently lectures at the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, and teaches a variety of art history courses at Imperial College, London - South Kensington campus, the City Literary, Covent Garden, London and Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street, London, including: An art history survey course called Styles in Art (spanning art from Byzantium to Victorian painting), The Mirror of Nature (looking at 17th Century art and culture), The Renaissance and Beyond, Introduction to the National Galley and Introduction to the National Portrait Gallery, Introduction to Western European Art and many more.

Leslie Primo's lecturing repertoire and subject areas include: Early Renaissance painting, High Renaissance painting, Baroque and Mannerism, 17th, 18th and 19th century artists such as Seurat, Monet and Cézanne, which also encompasses Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.

Listings of all my classes and free gallery tours are available on my website just Click here

Art First Primo at Imperial College, London

Introduction to European Art Appreciation

Returning this year is my 20 week Introduction to European Art Appreciation at Imperial College, London. Taught over three terms, it begins on Wednesday 16th October 2013 and ends on Wednesday 19th March, 2014. This 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.

The course begins with the first three weeks devoted to iconography, exploring aspects such
as saints, pagan gods, signs, symbols, meaning and more. Within these first three lessons
we will also look at the application of perspective and colour. Thereafter each week will also
focus on particular movements and periods in European art history, the result being by the
end of the course you will have a broad understanding of art appreciation in a historical and
aesthetic context as well as the confidence to speak knowledgeably and critically about
European art. No prior knowledge of art history is required.

Please find below a brief week-by-week course outline.

SEMESTER ONE:
1. The Iconography of Venus, Cupid and Mars
2. The Iconography of Adorations and Annunciations
3. The Iconography of Saints and Sinners
4. Byzantine to Gothic
5. Medieval and Gothic
6. The Florentine Renaissance
7. The Northern Renaissance
8. The Sienese Renaissance
9. Botticelli

SEMESTER TWO:
10. Leonardo
11. Raphael
12. Michelangelo
13. The Venetian Renaissance
14. Baroque
15. Northern Baroque
16. Art in Spain
17. Art in France
18. The Dutch Golden Age
19. Neo-Classicism
20. The Victorian Age to the Modern Age

Click here for link to Imperial College website

Art First Primo at the Bishopsgate Institute this Summer

 Summer School - Leonardo da Vinci: Life & Work

Summer is here and so are my Summer Schools.  Separating the fact from the fiction regarding this most enigmatic of artists; all you ever wanted to know about the man himself.  On Saturday 17th August I run my one day Summer School on the life of Leonardo da Vinci.  Running from 10:30 - 16:30, this study day aims to provide the student with an insight into the life of the great Renaissance master, ultimately an understanding of his works through the historical and social context within which this artist worked. The course will look at his early career and training and the stylistic similarities or differences in his works.

For booking infomation on the Bishopsgate website just Click here

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 14:30 afternoon tour: 22-05-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery 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, Sunday 5th May 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 very small, chapel-like room 66 of the Sainsbury wing with the Baptism of Christ (1450s) by Piero della Francesca (about 1415/20 - 1492): National Gallery web link here 

We then moved on to room 64, of the Sainsbury wing, to look triptych (three panel painting), with the two panels on loan from the Walker Art Gallery of Liverpool of  Passion of Christ (about 1490-95) by the unknown artist known only as The Master of the Aachen Altarpiece (active late 15th to early 16th century): National Gallery web link here

Crossing into the main building we then went to room 14 where we saw an Adoration of the Kings (1510 - 1515) by Jan Gossaert (active 1503; died 1532): National Gallery web link here

This was followed by visit to room 32 for a recently restored Adoration of the Shepherds (about 1640) in  by Guido Reni (1575 - 1642): National Gallery web link here 

Finally we ended in room 44 with the modern masterpiece Bathers at Asnières (1884) by Georges Seurat (1859 - 1891): National Gallery web link here


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be announced shortly.
  

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 11:30 morning tour: 22-05-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery 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, Sunday 5th May 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 room 62 of the Sainsbury wing with the Doge Loredan (1501-2) by Giovanni Bellini (active about 1459 - died 1516): National Gallery web link here 

We then moved on to room 60, of the Sainsbury wing, to look at the brother-in-law of the previous painter with a work called The Introduction of the Cult of Cybele at Rome (1505-6) by Andrea Mantegna (about 1430/31 died 1506): National Gallery web link here

Crossing into the main building we went to room 9 and alighted on The Death of Actaeon (1559 - 1575) by Tiziano Vecellio in English Titian (active about 1506 - died 1576): National Gallery web link here

This was followed by an Adoration of the Kings (1564) in room 14 by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (active 1550/1; died 1569): National Gallery web link here 

Finally we ended in room 32 with The Supper at Emmaus (1601) by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571 - 1610): National Gallery web link here


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be announced shortly.
  

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 11:30 morning tour: 05-05-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery 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, Sunday 5th May 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 room 54 of the Sainsbury wing with the Battle of San Romano (probably about 1438-40) by Paolo Uccello (1397 - 1475): National Gallery web link here 

We then moved on to room 56, one of the smallest rooms in the Sainsbury wing, to look at the enigmatic Arnolfini Portrait (1434) by Jan van Eyck (active 1422 died 1441): National Gallery web link here

Crossing into the main building we went to room 9 and looked at the High Renaissance Venetian school of painting represented by one of four ceiling paintings called Happy Union (about 1475) by Paolo Veronese (1528 - 1588): National Gallery web link here

While in room 9 we also looked two other examples of Veronese's work; The Family of Darius before Alexander (1565-7): National Gallery web link here and The Dream of St Helena (1617): National Gallery web link here (about 1570)


This was followed by a visit to room 5 to look at the triptych, Scenes from the Passion of Christ (about 1510) by the mysterious Master of Delft (active early 15th century): National Gallery web link here

Finally we ended in room 44 and looking at the painting that sits just outside of the National Gallery's official time remit, Lake Keitele (1905) by the only Finish artist in the National Gallery's collection, Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865 - 1931): National Gallery web link here


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be at 11:30 and 14:30 (Wednesday May 22nd).
  

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 14:30 afternoon tour: 05-05-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery 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, Sunday 5th May 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 room 57 of the Sainsbury wing with the Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian (1475) by Antonio and Piero del Polliauolo (about 1432-98 and about 1441 - before 1496): National Gallery web link here 

While here we also looked two other examples of workshop paintings; Tobias and the Angel, with the intervention of Leonardo da Vinci's dog (about 1470-75) by workshop of Verrocchio: National Gallery web link here and The Virgin of the Rocks (1491/2-9 and 1506-8) by Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519): National Gallery web link here

We then moved into the main building to room 9 to look at the Death of Actaeon (1559 -75) by Titian (active about 1506 died 1576): National Gallery web link here

Crossing into the main building we went to room 9 and looked at the High Renaissance Venetian school of painting represented by one of four ceiling paintings called Happy Union (about 1475) by Paolo Veronese (1528 - 1588): National Gallery web link here

Finally we ended in room 43 and looking at the Bathers at La Grenouillère (1869) by Claude-Oscar Monet (1865 - 1931): National Gallery web link here


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be at 11:30 and 14:30 (Wednesday May 22nd).
  

An Introduction to the History of European Art - At the Bishopsgate Institute

Lysippus, copy after original (Head of Alexander the Great, c325-300BC) Istanbul, Turkey

Can't get enough of my guided tours of the National Gallery and want to further explore with me more fascinating works of art with fascinating  stories and histories? Then why not join me at the Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street, London for a short six week evening course that will give you more in depth view of art and enhance your visits to art galleries.  

My Introduction to the History of European Art the course combines appreciation with the history of the principal movements in European art.  

The next intake for the course starts this Friday 26 April running until Friday 14 June, at a cost of £73.00 - £97.00, but if you cannot make this intake there are further opportunities later in the year, read on for more information.

The Introduction to the History of European Art course will explore the differences between Medieval and Renaissance art, and between Baroque and Neo-Classicism. Over five classes and a guided visit to the National Gallery, you will look at a selection of masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Jan van Eyck and Jan Vermeer among others.  

As mentioned previously this course also includes, in the penultimate week, an exclusive two hour tour, with me, of the National Gallery, where you get to ask all those questions you have always wanted to ask about art, such as: what are the hidden messages in art and how do I find them? Why did the artists' chooses to paint particular pictures? How long did it take them to paint the pictures, and did they have any help? And just how much were they paid, and how much are these paintings worth now?

This course is open to all those with an inquiring mind and requires now prior knowledge of art history, so come and extend your interest and have fun exploring paintings in the classroom and in front of the actual works of art on my six week Introduction to the History of European Art course at the Bishopsgate Institute.

The course is run every year in six week intervals from January through to March and June, and again in September through to December.  For details do check the the Bishopsgate Institute website: Bishopsgate Introduction to the History of European Art  

The next course starts on Friday 26 April and runs until Friday 14 June the cost is £73.00 - £97.00.

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 14:30 afternoon tour: 20-04-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery 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, Saturday 20th April 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 room 54 of the Sainsbury wing with The Annunciation (about 1450-3) by Fra Filippo Lippi (1406 - 1469): National Gallery web link here 

While here (in room 54) we also looked at the pendent painting to this picture the Seven Saints  (about 1450-3) also by Fra Filippo Lippi (1406 -1469): National Gallery web link here

In room 61 we looked at The Introduction of the Cult of the Cybele to Rome (1506) by Andrea Mantegna (about 1431/1-1506): National Gallery web link here

In room 8 we looked at one of the largest paintings in the National Gallery's collection, The Raising of Lazarus (1517-19) by Sebastiano del Piombo (about 1485 - 1547): National Gallery web link here

This was followed by a visit to room 14 to look at the Adoration of the Kings (1510-15) by Jan Gossaert (active 1503 - 1532): National Gallery web link here

Finally we ended in room 29 and looking at the Judgement of Paris (1532/5) by Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640): National Gallery web link here


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be at 11:30 and 14:30 (Sunday May 5th & Wednesday May 22nd).
  

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 11:30 morning tour: 20-04-13

Welcome to my listing of paintings that have recently featured in my regular tours of the National Gallery, London. For those of you who don't yet know, let me remind you the National Gallery 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, Saturday 20th April 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 room 58 of the Sainsbury wing with A Satyr Mourning over a Nymph (about 1495) all by Piero di Cosimo (1462 - 1522): National Gallery web link here 

While here (in room 58) we also looked at the wedding chest or Cassone feature the story of the School Master of Falerii (late 15th century) attributed to the Master of Marradi (active late 15th century): National Gallery web link here

Just next door in room 59 we looked at The Annunciation with St Emidius (1486) by Carlo Crivelli (active about 1459 - 1516): National Gallery web link here

In the north wing of the Gallery we looked at the Dutch Caravaggist painting of Christ Before the High Priest (1617) by Gerrit van Honthorst (1492 - 1656): National Gallery web link here

This was followed by a visit to room 14 to look at the Adoration of the Kings (1564) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1550/1 - 1569): National Gallery web link here

Finally we ended in room 35 and looking at the six paintings collectively known Marriage-a-la-Mode (1743) by William Hogarth (1697 - 1764): National Gallery web link here


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be at 11:30 and 14:30 (Sunday May 5th & Wednesday May 22nd).