One Hundred Great Paintings

The National Gallery in London houses one of the richest collections of Western European paintings in the world, ranging from the 13th to the 20th century. In this beautiful book, one hundred of the greatest works from the collection, each by a different artist, are presented in chronological order, and accompanied by a lively, informative text and full-page color reproductions. From the earliest--a remnant of an Italian altarpiece dating from around 1265--to the most recent--Paul Cezanne's greatBathers, of about 1894-1905--each painting has been carefully chosen for the unique significance it holds; whether representing a particular artist, place or time, or simply for its beauty and the pleasure it provides to the viewer. The painters featured here include some of the most famous names in European art--Duccio, Giotto, Durer, Holbein, van Eyck, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Rubens, Rembrandt, El Greco, Velazquez, Zurbaran, Goya, Caravaggio, Claude, Poussin, Hogarth, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Constable, Turner, Courbet, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Rousseau, and Van Gogh--and some of the most iconic paintings in the world--The Wilton Diptych,The Arnolfini Portrait,TheAmbassadors, andSunflowers. These selected highlights introduce some of the most inspiring paintings ever made. The reader can dip in to explore individual paintings, or read from cover to cover for a full survey.

Louise Govier was formerly Adult Learning Manager at the National Gallery and is currently the MLA Museums Clore Leadership Fellow. She has written several books and films which offer engaging ways to explore the National Gallery’s collection, including The National Gallery: A Visitor’s Guide.