Birth of a Collection: Masterpieces from the Barber Institute of Fine Arts

Interesting small exhibition at the National Gallery of works on loan from the Barber Institute at Birmingham University.

This collection are the first twelve pictures which were bought for the Barber and which were displayed and stored at the National Gallery before the building was built and this is the first time they have returned since.

It was a lovely little overview of the history of art with works by Poussin, Hals, Tinteretto, Monet and Manet and the descriptions on the pictures gave a good idea of why the pictures are important and a view of the price paid.

The highlight was a lovely big unfinished portrait by Manet of Carolus-Duran which gives a good idea of his working methods.

 

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