Stories of art Module 1 : Sainsbury Wing 1260-1500

Fourth session in a six week course at the National Gallery on the period covered by the Sainsbury Wing roughly 1260 to 1500.

This week the course leader Richard Stemp looked how the works were taking us through the techniques used to make an early altarpiece such as the Pessellino altarpiece in the National Gallery. He talked about the commissioning process and what the artist would need to do sell his ideas to the patron. He then talked about how each layer of the picture was built up including the integrated frame. In one fascinating section he looked at all the different styles of gold work in the Wilton diptych. He also touched briefly on works on linen.

In the second half Jill Dunkerton from the conservation department talked about how oil painting became more significant but also debunked the myths drawn up by Vasari about its invention by Van Eyck and its introduction to Italy by Antonello.

 

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