For this Art Wednesday we’ll look some of the works in the permanent collection at the National Gallery in London in Trafalgar Square under the shadow of Big Ben and the London Eye. This one took my breath away.
Rembrandt, Adoration of the Shepherds, 1646
A while back, my daughter and I traveled to London and spent a good part of a day wandering the halls of the National Gallery. Many museums in London are free—this one included.
Hans Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors, 1533
London, man. What a city. I want to spend many more days there walking around the old, old streets that lead you from one monument of historical significance to another.
Van Gogh, Wheat Field with Cypresses, 1889
London’s National Gallery has such a range of art, including early oil paintings by Jan Van Eyck, one of the first to use the medium. Such rich history around every turn.
Jan van Eyck, The Arnolfini Portrait, 1434
Turner is one of England’s finest painters. For many years I had my eye on the French painters, and only just came to know Turner in the last decade. This one is a personal favorite.
Turner, Rain, Steam, and Speed—The Great Western Railway, 1844
My exposure to London is limited, so I’m not the best authority here, but some other museums you should check out when in London: Tate Britain, Tate Modern, The British Museum, and The Wallace Collection.
Monet, Water Lily Pond, 1899
The Vermeers housed in the National Gallery are terrific, especially since there are so few in the world. You can get up close and see his amazingly detailed brushwork.
