The National Gallery's must-see works of art

London's National Gallery presents a wide range of works of art.

Here, you can discover many of the creations that have spanned the ages.

Today, I'm talking about 6 of them, not to be missed.

Works of art from the National Gallery: article summary

Works of art at the National Gallery: the architecture of the site

The first floor of London's National Gallery is divided into 4 wings. Each wing contains pieces from a particular period, in chronological order.

• The Sainsbury wing covers the medieval and early Renaissance periods (1250-1500).
• The west wing covers the High Renaissance period (1500-1600).
• The north wing dates from the Baroque period (1600-1700).
• The east wing houses pieces ranging from the 1700s to the early 20ᵉ century covering Romanticism, Realism and Impressionism.

Each of these wings is packed with works of art that you can't miss when you visit.

Leonardo da Vinci's Madonna of the Rocks

In April 1483, this piece was commissioned for the altarpiece of a newly built chapel, the church of San Francesco Grande in Milan.

The painting depicts the legend of the meeting between the Holy Family and John the Baptist. It depicts a mystical landscape with strange rock formations and pyramid-shaped figures.

The Vierge aux Rochers in the National Gallery collection is the second version of this painting. The first version is in the Louvre, Paris.

We still don't know exactly why there are two versions of this painting, but the most likely scenario is that Leonardo da Vinci sold the first copy.

Works of art from the National Gallery: Portrait of Arnolfini by Jan Van Eyck

This painting is considered one of the most intriguing in the world and is probably the most famous by Jan Van Eyck.

At a glance, it appears to be simply an oil painting of two people, a well-dressed man and woman. It must be of Italian merchant Giovanni Di Nicolao and his wife.

A closer look at this painting reveals a few observations. It seems to emphasize the richness of the subjects, the room seems to have a sober luxury, clearly displayed in the furniture.

Behind the couple is a mirror that reflects not the couple themselves, but two other characters entering through a door.

One of the characters raises his hands in greeting, and the man seems to respond to this greeting.

Numerous debates about the meaning of the work

Historians have debated for many years what the image was supposed to represent. In the past, most people believed that it was a wedding ceremony, but it is now thought that the couples were already married and thatit's more a symbol of their union.

The National Gallery acquired the painting in 1842 for 600 guineas. It was the first Flemish painting to be exhibited in the National Gallery.

Young woman standing in front of a virginal by Johannes Vermeer

This painting, rumored to be part of a duo by the artist, depicts a young woman at a keyboard. This type of art depicting musical scenes was very popular in 17th-century Holland.

Most of Johannes Vermeer's surviving paintings show women at play. musical instruments in orderly interior environments.

The girl in the work stares at the viewer. Once you free yourself from her gaze, you begin to notice other parts of the room.

In Vermeer, it's all in the details

Take the empty chair next to the keyboard, which means she may be waiting for someone. The nude Cupid on the wall behind her also suggests a romantic meaning.

We don't have enough clues to draw any firm conclusions about the picture and it seems to be intentional.

However, from the way the girl is dressed, we can tell that she comes from a wealthy Dutch family.

Looking at the style of the painting, completed between 1670 and 1672. The painting also depicts the subtle effects of light on different objects.

Johannes Vermeer was an expert in the creation of an intriguing and uncertain art form.

Works of art from the National Gallery: Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian

This painting tells the story of the abandoned Cretan princess, Ariadne, and the god of wine, Bacchus.

It's a story that many poets have told, but the version represented here comes from the stories of Ovid and Catullus.

The painting attempts to capture the moment when Bacchus falls in love with the princess. We see him returning from India in his cheetah-drawn chariot, accompanied by his usual companions:

• Musical nymphs
• Satyrs
• A drunken Silenus

We see him in full flight from the chariot to greet the beautiful Ariadne. This representation of the god was rarely seen in paintings of the time.

It is one of the most famous pieces in the National Gallery. Titian fills the picture with details you can appreciate when you take a closer look.

This work has exerted a strong influence on the style of European art, and remains a must-see for anyone visiting the National Gallery.

The Sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh was a post-impressionist painter recognized as one of the most famous and influential in Western art history. It is therefore not surprising that at least one of his pieces be presented in this venue.

It is thought that this work was intended to please his friend and fellow artist Paul Gauguin. However, the work also seems to have been of some importance to Van Gogh himself.

The painting depicts fifteen sunflowers at different stages of their life cycle, from young bud to dead flower.

Van Gogh created a sensation of intense warmth with its vibrant, expert use of yellow paint.

The work at the National Gallery is one of seven versions of Sunflowers painted by the artist.

The others are on display in museums and galleries around the world, in private collections, and sadly, at least one piece has been destroyed.

Works of art from the National Gallery: Venus and Mars by Sandro Botticelli

During the last three decades of the 15th century, Sandro Botticelli was one of Florence's most popular painters. Venus and Mars was one of the paintings he created during this period.

It seems that Botticelli wanted to give the impression of love conquering war. We are looking at the scene in which Venus, the goddess of love, has defeated the sleeping god of war, Mars.

You can see Venus lying on a cushion, looking down at her lover, Mars. Mars is sleeping so soundly that he can't hear the conch shell a satyr blows in his ear, and nor did he notice the other satyrs playing around him.

As you can see, London's National Gallery is full of wonders. On your next visit to the city, Don't hesitate to take a look around and discover the works hidden away.

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