London, The National Gallery Giovanni Bellini was the rock upon which the great flowering of sixteenth century Venetian art was built. His interest in the primacy of colour and light became the touchstone of the great Venetian masters of the following generations. Throughout his long life he was remarkably open to new ideas. Even though … Read more

New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art A small rowing boat drifts on a slate-blue sea near a rocky tomb-encrusted island. The intense, brooding sky is scarcely lighter than the sea. The light is behind us, picking out the white marble of two mausoleums. It also highlights a white-clad figure standing in the centre of the … Read more

New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art Courbet was no stranger to controversy. He was a man of strong political views which occasionally erupted into activism, in particular during the revolutionary year of 1848 and the Commune in 1871. He was anti-intellectual, anti-clerical and anti-establishment and these socio-political opinions had an impact on the subject matter … Read more

Paris, Musée Gustave Moreau This work assaults the eye with myriad forms constructed from a kaleidoscope of colour. The heavily impastoed surface builds, in places, to further enhance the jewelled surface – every inch is encrusted with detail. As one peers more closely, various vegetative and animate forms detach themselves from the cacophony. Dominating all … Read more

New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art Édouard Manet had almost reached the age of 40 in 1872 without having sold more than a couple of paintings. He had gained notoriety during the 1860s with paintings such as Déjeuner sur l’herbe and Olympia both of which had provoked furiously venomous reviews. But he doggedly continued to submit paintings for consideration … Read more

London, National Gallery The picture was probably painted for Duke Cosimo de’ Medici of Florence as a gift for the King of France, François I — it would certainly have been welcome as François was noted for his pursuit of women. The king and his courtiers would have been able to appreciate the eroticism of … Read more

London, National Gallery This is the most beguiling back in the history of western art — a masterpiece of sensuality emphasising the curve between a very slim waist and full hips. The flesh tones are perfectly offset against the black silk upon which she is reclining. All is realised with a very free style. Venus … Read more

Paris, Musée d’Orsay ‘My surroundings here begin to weigh on me more than I can say – my word, I have been patient for more than a year – I need air; I feel overwhelmed with boredom and grief. I am at the end of my patience, my dear brother; I can’t stand any more … Read more

New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art St Eligius was born to an influential family in the French town of Limoges in about ad 588. His first calling may have been as a farrier but he later established himself as a goldsmith. He left Limoges and traveled north to work for the royal treasury where he … Read more

London, Tate Britain Sargent is chiefly known as a society portrait painter although a glance at this composition will reveal that this description of him does not do justice to the range of his art. Trained in the Parisian studio of the fashionable portraitist Charles Carolus-Duran, he was soon competing with his mentor for the … Read more