About this experience
The National Gallery in London is a museum of the greatest masterpieces of European art. Created later than the Louvre, Hermitage, and Prado, it is renowned for the quality of its collection, curated by experts who knew their craft well. In 3 hours, I will show you the most interesting works, tracing the development of ideas and styles from the late Middle Ages to Post-Impressionism. I will teach you to understand the main schools of art and show how 'reading' plots can make studying paintings an exciting journey.
What to Expect
Each canvas contains a specific worldview and history. By looking closely, you can understand this history and often decipher an exciting plot. We will discuss the techniques used by old masters to captivate our gaze and tell their story to the end. Sometimes, a master intentionally confuses us to keep the secret for better times. Threads stretch from each painting, connecting it to any other painting, and we can trace these connections.
- We will try to decipher the symbolism of the legendary white deer adorning the precious Wilton Diptych.
- We will approach unraveling the mystery of the double portrait by Van Eyck, created in 1434 and still sparking heated debates among art historians.
- We will compare different schools of the Italian Renaissance and see one of Leonardo da Vinci's finest works.
- Our heroes will be the great Dutch painters Hals, Rembrandt, Vermeer, their 'lesser' colleagues, as well as their contemporary from the south, Peter Paul Rubens, and many other great masters, including Bosch and the Elder Bruegel.
- You will learn how and why Caravaggio influenced Velázquez and all Spanish art of the 20th century, and how it affected English portrait painting of the 18th century.
- We will talk about the favorite artists of the Impressionists and then see how this manifested in their works.
Who Is This Tour For
Stories Told by Paintings is the main focus of the tour. The genre of history is accessible to everyone, so the tour is suitable for a wide range of listeners: adults and children, for art-informed specialists and those visiting a museum for the first time. Families with children, people of different ages can try not just to look at the works but to truly see them, so the paintings become inseparable from their own experience.
Organizational Details
- Entry to the National Gallery, like most other major London museums, is free, although tickets are required for temporary exhibitions.
- It is easy to reach the museum by underground or taxi. If you have mobility issues, I can arrange a wheelchair or bring a portable chair and try to accommodate your other needs.
- The duration of the tour is designed for adults; if there are children in the group, we can adjust the timing and route together in advance.
