Adresse: Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, London WC2N 5DN
In the Bruges of the 1400s, the Italian Arnolfini family must have been rather important in order to have none other than the top painter of the Flemish tradition, local artist Jan Van Eyck - who was also the official painter of the Court of Philip the Good, the Grand Duke of Burgundy - to carry out their portraits. Van Eyck put all his expertise in oil painting to work in portraying a number of select items to celebrate the wealth of the Italian couple. From the luxurious furnishings of the room to the elegantly tailored garments of the couple - every detail, precisely depicted, suggests their abundant means. But who are the two people depicted in the painting? Actually, very little is known about the couple. Most probably, it is Giovanni di Nicolao of Arnolfini, known as Giannino or Jehannin, who would have been around 34 years of age in 1434. The woman is most likely his second wife. Quite noteworthy is the large round mirror at the centre of the composition which shows the convex reflection of the room, but also two men entering the room through a door behind the couple. Above the mirror is written Johannes de Eyck fuit hic. 1434 (Jan van Eyck was here. 1434). Could it be Van Eyck and his assistant entering the room to carry out the portrait? The masterpiece has been at the National Gallery since 1842.
The legendary band Pink Martini celebrates 30 years since their musical debut in 2024. A perfect blend of Latin, jazz, pop and classical influences, for a unique evening at the Royal Albert Hall.
The Biba Story explores the brand phenomenon invented by Barbara Hulanicki, grew to become the world's first lifestyle brand embodying the fashion of the 1960s and 1970s.
Lucian Freud is one of the most famous British artists of the 20th century. Known as a painter, Freud was also a keen printmaker. A collection of 143 etchings by Lucian Freud was acquired by the V&A in 2019. Today for the first time in this exhibition 38 of these etchings are presented to the public.
An exhibition to explore the creation of Parmigianino’s The Madonna and Child with Saints, also known as The Vision of Saint Jerome. It returns to public display for the first time in 10 years following conservation.