artfirstprimo at the NG - the 14:30 afternoon tour: 16-02-13

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, 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, Saturday 16th February  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 four pictures in room 54; two lunette paintings considered to have the status of mere furniture, one of an Annunciation (about 1450-3):  http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/fra-filippo-lippi-the-annunciation and its pendant picture of the Seven Saints (about 1550-3) http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/fra-filippo-lippi-seven-saints both by Fra Filippo Lippi (c.1406-8 - 1469) 

Also in room 54 we looked at two other pictures, also considered to be furniture; The Story of David and Goliath (1444-55) and the Triumph of David (1444-55) by Francesco Pesellino (1422-1457): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/francesco-pesellino-the-story-of-david-and-goliath

This was followed by The Entombment (about 1470) by Dirk Bouts (1400-1475?): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/dirk-bouts-the-entombment

We then moved to room 8 and looked at The Raising of Lazarus (1517-19) by Sebastiano del Piombo (c. 1485 – 1547): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/sebastiano-del-piombo-the-raising-of-lazarus

Following this we moved to room 6 and looked at An Allegory of Love (1527-39) by Garofalo (1481 - 1559): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/garofalo-an-allegory-of-love

And finally we ended in room 44 looking at The Bathers at Asnières (1884) by Georges Seurat (1859-1891): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/georges-seurat-bathers-at-asnieres


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be at 11:30 and 14:30 on Sunday 24th Feb. Hope to see you there:  http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/learning/adult-learning/

artfirstprimo at the NG - the 11:30 morning tour: 16-02-13

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, 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, Saturday 16th February  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 La Madonna della Rondine (The Madonna of the Swallow (after 1490) by Carlo Crivelli (about 1430/5 - about 1494): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/carlo-crivelli-la-madonna-della-rondine-the-madonna-of-the-swallow 

This was followed by The Introduction of the Cult of the Cybele at Rome (1505-6) by Andrea Mantegna (about 1430/1 -1506): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/andrea-mantegna-the-introduction-of-the-cult-of-cybele-at-rome

We then moved to room 23 and looked at Self-Portrait at the age 63 (1669) by Rembrandt (1606 - 1669): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/rembrandt-self-portrait-at-the-age-of-63

Following this we moved to 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

In room 40 we looked at Bacchus and Ariadne (1700-10) by Sebastiano Ricci (1659-1734): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/sebastiano-ricci-bacchus-and-ariadne

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


My next guided tours at the National Gallery will be at 11:30 and 14:30 on Sunday 24th Feb.   http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/learning/adult-learning/

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

Head of Constantine I, the Great (cast bronze, gilt) National Museum, Belgrade

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 - afternoon tour: 19-01-13

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, Saturday 19th January, 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 Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian (1475) by Antonio and Piero del Pollaiuolo (about 1432 - 98, and about 1441 - before 1496): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/antonio-del-pollaiuolo-and-piero-del-pollaiuolo-the-martyrdom-of-saint-sebastian 

This was followed by The Madonna della Rondine (after 1490) by Carlo Crivelli (about 1430/5 - 1494): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/carlo-crivelli-la-madonna-della-rondine-the-madonna-of-the-swallow

We then moved to room 8 and looked at An Allegory Love (about 1545) by Bronzino (1503 - 1572): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/bronzino-an-allegory-with-venus-and-cupid

Following this we moved to room 4 to look at The Ambassadors (1533) by Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/8 - 1543): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/hans-holbein-the-younger-the-ambassadors

And finally we ended in room 44 with the Bathers at Asnieres (1884) by Georges Seurat (1859 - 1891): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/georges-seurat-bathers-at-asnieres

My next guided tour will be at the National Portrait Gallery at 15:00 tomorrow 20th Jan.  The subject will be 'Women of Substance' http://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/event-root/janaury-2013/gallery-talk-women-of-substance-20012013-evening.php

artfirstprimo at the NG - morning tour: 19-01-13

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, Saturday 19th January, 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 Virgin and Child (1426) by Masaccio (1401 - 1428/9?): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/masaccio-the-virgin-and-child In the same room we also looked at the Quaratesi Madonna (1425) by Gentile da Fabriano (about 1385 -1427)
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/gentile-da-fabriano-the-quaratesi-madonna

This was followed by The Battle of San Romano (probably about 1438 - 40) by Paolo Uccello (1397 - 1475): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/paolo-uccello-the-battle-of-san-romano

We then moved to room 24 and looked at Belshazzer's Feast (about 1638-8) by Rembrandt (1606 - 1669): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/rembrandt-belshazzars-feast

Following this we moved to room 29 to look at Peace and War (1629-30) by Peter paul Rubens (1577 - 1640): http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/peter-paul-rubens-minerva-protects-pax-from-mars-peace-and-war

And finally we ended in room 29 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 tour will be at the National Portrait Gallery at 15:00 tomorrow 20th Jan.  The subject will be 'Women of Substance http://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/event-root/janaury-2013/gallery-talk-women-of-substance-20012013-evening.php

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