Collections The Evening Meal Paris, about 1903 Oil on canvas 37.4 x 45.5 cm The scene shows Bonnard’s sister Andrée Terrasse and two of her children, Robert, and, silhouetted against the lamp, Vivette. They are seated for an evening meal in the Terrasse’s home at Le Grand-Lemps in the rural south of France. Bonnard painted many … Read more
A Sheet of Studies Netherlands, mid-1630s Pen, brown wash and red chalk 220 X 233 mm This sheet contains nine studies of five different figures and is the most important and complete set of studies by Rembrandt to survive intact. Many others appear to have been cut up at a later date. The exact dating … Read more
Joseph Distributing Corn in Egypt Amsterdam, 1655 Oil on canvas 110.5 x 90 cm Joseph, at the top right, oversees the sale of corn during a time of famine. According to the Old Testament, Joseph had stored the fruits of seven bountiful years and the people of Egypt, watched by the Pharoah, to the upper … Read more
The Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist Florence, the 1480s Tempera on canvas 130.7 x 91.4 cm The Virgin lowers the infant Christ to embrace his cousin, John the Baptist. Christ recognises that Saint John will pave the way for his own divine mission. The complex poses and the narrow composition … Read more
A Mythological Scene Venice, the 1530s Oil on wood 41.7 x 96.3 cm In the centre a young man playing a viola da gamba is garlanded by a woman, whilst others pick blossom and gather blooms. Venetian artists in the first half of the 16th century painted numerous pastoral scenes in which youths languidly make … Read more
François Bonvin The Attributes of Painting Paris, about 1879 Oil on canvas 49.4 x 60.5 cm This still life depicts the materials used in its making – including palette and brushes, tubes of paint, a portfolio of drawings, an inkwell and a paintbox. The French artist Bonvin painted the objects in the direct and uncompromisingly … Read more
MISS LALA AT THE CIRQUE FERNANDO France, 1879 Black chalk with touches of pastel 470 x 320 mm In 1879 Degas made this preparatory drawing of Miss LaLa, an acrobat of mixed European and African parentage. Renowned for her agility, she performed throughout Europe. This daring perspective shows LaLa suspended from the rafters of the … Read more
Saint Jerome in the Wilderness Venice, about 1460 Tempera on wood 44 x 22.9 cm Saint Jerome (died 419) was a scholar who translated the Bible into Latin. He also retired to the wilderness and lived the secluded of a hermit. According to legend, he removed a thorn from the paw of a lion who … Read more
The Entry of Bonaparte into Milan Paris, about 1822/4 Oil on canvas 44.4 x 60.3 cm Napoleon Bonaparte’s triumphal entry into Milan in May 1796 occurred during a military campaign which saw the rapid conquest of much of the Italian peninsular. Bellangé was commissioned to provide an illustration of the event for a biography following … Read more
Domenico Beccafumi Reclining Nymph (Venus and Cupid) Siena, about 1519 Oil on wood 71.7 x 13.8 cm This panel formed part of the decoration of the bedchamber of Francesco Petrucci of Siena and his wife Caterina Piccolomini. It was used as the headboard of the bed. The figure appears to be a water nymph, but … Read more
Jacopo da Ponte, called Bassano The Adoration of the Magi Bassano, near Venice, the end of the 1560s Oil on canvas 94.3 x 130 cm The three kings, or Magi, approach the infant Christ with their gifts. Despite their worldly wealth, they bow to Christ who is acclaimed as the King of Kings. The setting … Read more
A Portrait of Carolus-Duran Montgeron, near Paris, 1876 Oil on canvas 191.8 x 172.7 cm Manet painted this study of the portraitist Emile-Auguste Carolus-Duran (1838 – 1917) when staying at a patron’s country estate near Paris. The two artists were old friends and they agreed to paint each other. Carolus-Duran is shown in riding boots … Read more
Saint Lawrence Among the Poor and Sick Rome, about 1588 Oil on canvas 61.5 x 73.5 cm The painting represents four episodes from the life of Saint Lawrence (died 258) painted by Guiseppe Cesari, known the Cavaliere d’Arpino. To the right, he heals a kneeling widow. In the centre a blind man is cured and … Read more
Attributed to Giovanni Baronzio The Angel of the Annunciation (top) The Nativity and the Annunciation to the Shepherds (centre) The Adoration of the Magi (bottom) Rimini, second quarter of the 14th century Tempera on wood 44.3 x 20.3 cm (including frame) This devotional panel, burnt by the heat of altar candles, formed the left wing … Read more
Saint Catherine of Alexandria Naples, the end of the 1640s Oil on canvas 71.7 x 59 cm Saint Catherine holds the martyr’s palm on top of part of her spiked wheel. She was sentenced to be crushed on the wheel by the Emperor Maxentius because she had condemned the worship of pagan idols. According to … Read more
Étienne Aubry Paternal Love Paris, exhibited 1775 Oil on canvas 78.7 x 101.6 cm Three generations of a family gather around a humble hearth, forming an image of domestic happiness in a modest setting. When Aubry exhibited the work in 1775 it was praised for its naturalism – the depiction of a range of objects … Read more
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione Rebecca Led by the Servant of Abraham Rome, about 1650 Oil on canvas 150 x 194.5 cm Rebecca is shown on horseback, making the journey to meet her future husband Isaac. She turns to address Abraham’s servant, who, according to the Old Testament, was guided by God to find Isaac a wife. … Read more
A Portrait of Gustavus Hamilton, 2nd Viscount Boyne (1710 – 1746) Venice, about 1730 – 1 Pastel, heightened with white bodycolour on paper 597 x 476 mm This striking portrait of Lord Boyne shows him in Venetian carnival dress, wearing a fine ermine trimmed coat, a bauta or lace veil, black tricorn hat and a … Read more
Portrait of a Man Probably Antwerp, 1530s Oil on wood 59.8 x 50.2 cm The identity of this man has been lost, though he could have been a scholar – the ring on his right hand is set with what may be a classical intaglio gem. The portrait probably originally formed a pair, with an … Read more
The Madonna and Child, with Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Appearing to Saint Bruno in a Vision Genoa, about 1650 Oil on canvas 118 x 145.5 cm Saint Bruno (about 1030 – 1101) is shown in the white habit of the Carthusian monks whose order he founded. In his vision he sees the Virgin and … Read more