CREAM OF THE COLLECTION
65 galleries, thousands of works? These are the other paintings you simply can’t miss.
• Raphael, The Madonna of the Pinks
(1506-7, Oil on yew)
This tiny painting has had a big influence. In it Raphael turned the traditional stiff depiction of the Virgin and Child on its head, imbuing his figures with tender emotion. For more than a century it was believed to be a copy, but in
1991 was confirmed as an original – Champagne corks must have popped following that discovery! ❘ Room 26
• Titian, Bacchus and Ariadne (1520-3, Oil on canvas) One of the National Gallery’s most famous paintings, Titian shows off his skill as a colourist here using all the most vivid pigments available at the time. He depicts the moment when Bacchus falls in love at first sight with Ariadne, later immortalising her as the constellation Corona Borealis, shown in the stars above her head. The painting was enormously influential: “The loves of the gods ceased to be a subject chiefly associated with furniture decoration and villa frescoes and became the most popular subject for gallery pictures.” ❘ Room 29
• J.M.W. Turner, The Fighting Temeraire (1839, Oil on canvas)
As the age of sail gives way to the age of steam, Turner depicts with all his evocative genius The Temeraire
being towed on its final journey to the scrapyard. It has taken on a greater symbolic meaning of changes wrought by the march of time – even in Skyfall
where James Bond contemplating the painting in the gallery is astounded to discover the youth sitting next to him is actually his new quartermaster. ❘ Room 34
• Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers (1888, Oil on canvas)
Painted to decorate artist Paul Gauguin’s bedroom when he came to stay, Sunflowers now lights up the
National Gallery’s walls. 2024 also marks the centenary of the gallery acquiring the painting, as well as Van Gogh’s Chair, and top-secret celebrations are planned to mark the occasion. ❘ Room 43