National Gallery Publications

Foreword In a glum moment in Wonderland, Alice, you will remember, asked what on earth was the use of a book without pictures or conversations. This book, I am happy to say, is rich in both: the pictures are some of the finest ever painted, and the conversations are with someone who knows them...

Introduction Lovers of painting require no explanation of why public art galleries exist - why, in particular, the National Gallery exists and should go on existing. While literature and music are broadly available to everyone, paintings present the problem of being single, physical objects,...

In a glum moment in Wonderland, Alice, you will remember, asked what on earth was the use of a book without pictures or conversations. This book, I am happy to say, is rich in both: the pictures are some of the finest ever painted, and the conversations are with someone who knows them as...