Free Exhibitions at The National Gallery Inside and Out

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The National Gallery is displaying sixteen replicas of the nations' favourite paintings in Trafalgar Square from 10th August until 1st September as part of Westminster Council's Inside Out Festival encouraging people to return to London's culture.

Reproductions of popular masterpieces are visible on entering the Square from any direction. Visitors can walk among the works and experience them up close. They were the product of collaboration with design consultancy, The Partners, as part of the Grand Tour exhibition in 2007 displaying masterpieces around the capital. Innovative creative imaging and printing by Hewlet Packard replicated the paintings in the same format as the originals, together with replica frames and an information plaque next to it as in the Gallery. Artists on view range from Van Eyck to Van Gogh.

When I visited the alfresco exhibits one youngster was especially gripped by Bartolome Bermejo's 'St Michael Triumphs Over the Devil,' 1468. A giant balletic Archangel towers over the praying donor, kneeling in the corner, praying penitential psalms. The Devil, vividly portrayed as half reptilian and half bat cowers beneath St.Michael's sword. Originally the panel was part of an altar piece in Tours, near Valencia . Michelangelo's unfinished masterpiece 'The Entombment of Christ', and Claude's extravaganza 'Seaport with Embarkation of St Ursula; 1641, are other religious scenes. St Ursula carries a standard emblazoned with a red cross leading her thousand maiden companions, prior to her martyrdom by the Huns.

A talented British young artist, Valdengrave Okumu was sketching Caravaggio's cinematic 'Salome Receiving the Head of John the Baptist' in remarkable detail .He told me he was self taught and loved Caravaggio's dramatic use of light and shade, see Instagram- www.instagram.com/valdengraveart/?hl=en-gb

Additional information on each painting can be accessed via the Smartify app which is free to download on any Smart phone. Anyone wishing to learn more can scan the QR codes next to the painting with their devices linking them to the National Gallery website to explore texts, films and features , delving into the stories behind the paintings.

Quotations about art are displayed including Degas' dictum, "Art is not what you are but what you make others see," and Leonardo Da Vinci's declaration "Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt. Poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen."

A cultural buzz permeates the Square with rows of thirty easels under red, white and blue umbrellas. Art workshops are led by art collectives, independent and National Gallery artists. Members of the public can participate for two hours under the guidance of these professionals, finding their inner creativity in making a picture.

Inspiration may be taken from the replica paintings, surrounding monuments, architecture and people , or anything else. Budding artists are encouraged to share their work on social media by tagging@nationalgallery..

During the pandemic the National Gallery has provided online programmes. Art, culture and museums play an important role in times of crisis and it is hoped that the open-air gallery and alfresco creative sessions will encourage visitors to engage with the National Collection in new ways.

Dr Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, says: "We are delighted to be working with Westminster Council and the Inside Out Festival, as it gives us the chance to showcase some of the Nation's favourite paintings out in the open for everyone ....to enjoy a taste of the treasures we have inside the National Gallery......Everyone is welcome to book their free tickets ."

Inside of the Gallery there are suggested tours of varying length keeping to Covid safety measures. Sanitising stations abound -even in the lifts! Either side of the Central Hall are two free exhibitions, Conversations with God: Jan Matejko's Copernicus, previewed by ICN, and Bellotto's Konigstein Views Reunited.

Bellotto was Canaletto's nephew and pupil and inspired by his architectural portrayals. He was employed by the Elector of Saxony, King of Poland at Dresden in 1747 and painted five views of the fortress which had been a monastery, castle, military hospital and prison. The monumental, brooding views of Konigstein were imported to Britain during the Seven Years War and are reunited for the first time in over 250 years until 31st.October.

There is also free admission to this years Take One Picture exhibition in the Sunley Room. Annually children throughout the UK are encouraged to create artwork inspired by a particular painting; this year, it is Paolo Uccello's 15th century painting, The Battle of San Romano. Art by pupils in years 4 and 6 at St.Benedicts Catholic School, Ealing are amongst those selected. Their imposing horse sculpture made of aluminium plate is particularly striking, and with their collection of colourful medieval helmet decorations can be seen until 12th September.

LINK

The National Gallery - www.nationagallery.org.uk