De Morgan, Evelyn (1855-1919) Queen Eleanor and the Fair Rosamund Probably 1901–1902 Oil on canvas, 75.6 x 66.7 cm De Morgan Collection Rosamund was the mistress of Henry II, who built a house for her at Woodstock in Oxfordshire. Legends say…
Gainsborough, Thomas (1727-1788) Mrs Siddons 1785 Oil on canvas, 126 × 99.5 cm National Gallery, London Mrs Siddons (1755–1831) was the greatest tragic actress of her time, remaining at the top of her profession for 30 years. Gainsborough painted her in the…
(1755–1831) née Sarah Kemble Sarah Siddons in Art: Gainsborough, Thomas (1727-1788) Mrs Siddons 1785 National Gallery, London Reynolds, Joshua (1723-1792) Infant Hercules Strangling Serpents 1786 Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg Born July 5 1755 Brecon (Wales) Died June 8 1831 London (England) Occupation…
Picasso, Pablo (1881-1973) La Maternité (Motherhood) 1901 Oil on fibre board, 100.1 × 72.9 cm National Gallery, London On loan from a private collection. A mother cradles a naked child, its long limbs folded into her embrace as if still in…
Michelangelo (1475-1564) Madonna di Manchester (Manchester Madonna: The Virgin and Child with Saint John and Angels) c.1494 Tempera on wood, 104.5 × 77 cm National Gallery, London This picture – known as ‘The Manchester Madonna’ since 1857, when it was exhibited in the…
Lorenzo di Credi (c.1459-1537) Madonna col Bambino (The Virgin and Child) c.1480–1485 Oil on wood, 71.1 × 49.5 cm National Gallery, London The Virgin Mary is seated directly in front of us. Together with swathes of drapery, she covers almost the…
Gentileschi, Artemisia (1593-c.1653) Autoritratto come Santa Caterina d’Alessandria (Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria) c.1615–1617 Oil on canvas, 71.4 × 69 cm National Gallery, London Artemisia Gentileschi, the most celebrated female artist of the seventeenth century, appears in the guise…
Corot, Jean-Baptiste-Camille (1796-1875) Avignon vue de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon (Avignon from the West) 1836 Oil on canvas, 34 × 73.2 cm National Gallery, London Corot visited the medieval city of Avignon in the south of France several times. This panoramic view of the city…
Flinck, Govert (1615-1660) Self Portrait aged 24 1639 Oil on oak, 65.8 × 54.4 cm National Gallery, London Rembrandt was an exacting teacher as well as a great artist – at least, he knew how to school the apprentices who came…
Bellini, Giovanni (c.1430-1516) Cristo morto sostenuto da due angeli (The Dead Christ supported by Two Angels) c.1465–1470 Oil on wood, 95 × 71.7 cm National Gallery, London This type of image of Christ after his death – close up, showing his…