Giovanni da Rimini: A 14th-Century Masterpiece Unveiled

Nice little exhibition at the National Gallery reuniting three small scale pictures known to be by Giovanni de Rimini.

The pictures were painted in the early 14th century and although in a classic early ‘primitive’ style with gold backgrounds they are starting to show an emotional connection between with figures such as where in the Virgin in Child picture Christ holds Mary’s thumb. Two of the pictures show scenes from the life of the Virgin and research for this exhibition has confirmed from their design that they were originally part of the same altarpiece which were made for Augustinian hermits.

The National Gallery’s picture includes a John the Baptist in a wonderful furry dress and super depictions of fabric in the altar cloth. This is one of the earliest works in the collection and is on loan to the donor during his life time after this show.

The pictures were shown a nice displays on the city of Rimini, a centre for artists innovation at this time (see my next entry!) with Giotto having been in the city in 1300. Also a display on the iconography of the pictures including ivories with similar images and works from Byzantium.

Closes on 8 October 2017

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