Some weeks ago, I finally visited the much anticipated debut of the Sainsbury Wing of London’s National Gallery.
I found it exhilarating.
I walked from room to room bursting with excitement about what I was going to find on the walls.
The corridors and rooms are fabulously curated with easily-discernible themes and ideas. The architecture and design lend a stately aesthetic to the museum’s prized works.
I must admit I was a little overwhelmed at one point – how lucky to live close to such beauty & treasures which are free to the public. I always tell people that if they’re feeling down or depressed, the National Gallery is a beautiful refuge to forget the outside world.
Rating: 5/5 ★★★★★
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Me at Trafalgar Square with my Van Gogh t-shirt.
London’s National Gallery embellishing with beautiful fountains.
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The Sainsbury Wing’s neoclassical entrance of the National Gallery.
The museum’s repository of early Renaissance paintings.
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The main foyer at the Sainsbury Entrance.
The muted light-coloured stone flooring gives it an elegant and spacious feel.
A gift shop, help desk and stairs to the main gallery.
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Palatial staircase to the main galleries.
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The early Netherlandish art
The first thing the gallery has done is open up the early renaissance into early and later Netherlandish Renaissance, German Renaissance, and Florentine/Sienese and High Renaissance rooms.
Man reading by by Rogier van der Weyden.
The Magdalen Reading by Rogier van der Weyden - beautiful painting.
Christ by Dirks Bouts; the pain, discolouration and corruscation.
The Virgin and Child in an Interior by Robert Campin.
Canon Bernardijn Salviati and Three Saints by Gerard David, 1501.
This is a breathtaking painting. Meticulous details and colours.
I want to write a post exploring this particular painting in more depth.
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The Wilton Diptych (the first you see when you enter into the Sainsbury Wing)
Always stunning.
Gold and ultramarine, fit for a King.
Stunning beauty takes centre stage.
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Jan van Eyck
Self-portrait hangs alongside the Aldorfini Portrait.
Incredible detail with a penetrating gaze.
I love that historic Netherlandish headpiece.
This painting hasn’t been on public display for some time.
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Italian Renaissance
Every inch of wall adorned by the great masters.
The architecture compounds to the beauty and elegance.
Carlo Crivelli’s extremely moving Montefiore Pieta. Just wow!
The second is a new (to me) egg tempera by Francesco di Giorgio.
I like the everyday tenderness of the Saint’s grasp with the child Christ.
Andrea del Verrocchio and Domenico Ghirlandaio in the rehang.
Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius by Sandro Botticelli
I’d never seen this painting before. It’s classic Botticelli & spatial configuration.
A true masterpiece by Paolo Uccello.
A classic beauty of Renaissance Italy.
The Agony in the Garden by Andrea Mantegna.
The Ansidei Madonna by Raphael.
Both exquisite masterpieces.
The famous Coronation of the Virgin polyptych.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks.
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The Dutch Golden Age
I really love the entire gamut of art spanning the Dutch Golden Age. It’s a breathtaking period of innovation and boundary-pushing. Here are some familiar paintings I saw on my visit:
A painting by one of the few women of the Dutch Golden age, Judith Lyster.
The joy of being kids .... 😁
A Poulterer’s Shop by Gerrit Dou, one of his best.
I love this Rubens masterpiece.
For me, completely gripping & enthralling.
Rembrandt’s self-portrait.
Painted towards the end of his life.
His frailty is sensitively depicted.
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Italian Mannerism and Baroque
The Paolo Veronese collection.
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Impressionism & post-impressionism
Rooms devoted to the 18th & 19th century works.
Bathers at Asnieres by Georges Seurat and Van Gogh.
A room devoted to pastels by Degas.
The second is familiar but the first, I hadn’t seen before.
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The Monet Room (a beautiful new room devoted to Claude Monet)
Monet’s Waterlilies depicting his flower garden at Giverny.
Another favourite: Monet’s Waterlily Pond, and
a recently acquired (I think?) Haystacks.
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The Coronation State Portraits (The King’s portrait was a little underwhelming)
Coronation State Portraits depict the monarch in coronation robes,
accompanied by the symbols of rule, most importantly the Crown.
Artists: Peter Kuhfeld and Paul S. Benney.
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The Titian Room (roaring success!)
A palatial room devoted to the greatest of the Venetians.
The first is a painting I hadn’t seen - Rest on the Flight to Egypt.
Titian’s fabulous collection: The Death of Actaeon,
Diana and Actaeon, and Diana and and Callisto.
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The big gift shop
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Post-art walk and coffee (with my friend Karen) 😁
I would love to receive three of the four Dutch Golden Age paintings for my birthday - Lyster, Dou and Rembrandt. If we can't afford that, a return flight to London would be second best. Much appreciated :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure trove of art! And thanks for introducing me to Judith Lyster -- women artists are so rare from that period, it's always great to learn of one more!
ReplyDeleteThe local museums really cost an arm and leg here.
ReplyDeleteCertainly well attended. Light and airy and well curated.
ReplyDeleteI'd have a field day in the gift shop.
ReplyDeleteIt's a magic building, spacious and the ceiling is very lovely letting in the light.
Here we are not permitted to take photos inside the/our gallery, so I do believe you are lucky to take photos of such wonderful paintings.