A World First: Painter Jacques Louis David’s Drawings
In the 18th century, neoclassical artist Jacques Louis David convincingly conveyed timeless themes throughout all his paintings, including political turmoil. As a supporter of the revolution, he painted French revolutionary history as it happened—eventually becoming Napoleon’s painter.David often spent years refining an idea on paper and canvas before realizing the finished piece. Yet, surprisingly, for such a celebrated artist, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York’s upcoming exhibition, “Jacques Louis David: Radical Draftsman” is the first major exhibition devoted to David’s works on paper.
Rare and seldom shown works are among the exhibition’s over 80 drawings and oil sketches, including—for the first time in the United States—“The Oath of the Tennis Court,” which David was commissioned to paint but never did.
A US First: Hans Holbein the Younger’s Portraits, More
Preeminent 16th-century German painter Hans Holbein the Younger is best known for his nuanced portraits of English Renaissance greats. But visitors to the upcoming “Holbein: Capturing Character” exhibition at The Morgan Library & Museum in New York will be able to see that Holbein created so much more.The exhibition is the first major U.S. show dedicated to Holbein’s entire career, from his artistic beginnings in the book trade in Basel, Switzerland, to the height of his career at King Henry VIII’s court in England.
In addition to his myriad portraits, exhibition visitors will see that Holbein designed prints, printed books, personal devices (emblems with mottos), and even jewels.
A Rare Spanish Gem: Murillo’s Prodigal Son Paintings
For the first time in America, visitors to the “Murillo: Picturing the Prodigal Son” exhibition at the Meadows Museum in Dallas will be able to see all of celebrated 17th-century Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’s prodigal son paintings—including a series of six narrative paintings on the subject, owned by the National Gallery of Ireland (NGI).
The NGI’s Prodigal Son series is the only series of Murillo’s paintings to survive completely intact and represents the first time a Spanish artist illustrated the parable in its entirety.
Exhibition visitors will also be able to see the National Gallery of Art’s Murrillo painting “The Return of the Prodigal Son” for the first time since its recent restoration.
Dutch and Flemish Brilliance: Realistic Fine Art Fiction
Expansive seascapes, sublime landscapes, realistic still-lifes and portraits, and lively genre paintings feature in the “Clouds, Ice, and Bounty: The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund Collection of Seventeenth-Century Dutch and Flemish Paintings” exhibition, at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
The 27 paintings on display show a cross-section of fine Dutch and Flemish art. But visitors shouldn’t be fooled by the realistic scenes. Exhibition curator Betsy Wiseman suggests, in an exhibition video, that visitors think of each painting as if they would consider a novel: “based on truth and life experience, but drawing on the author’s imagination to craft a specific vision–an improved and highly selective view of reality, if you like.“ The exhibition explores the visions these artists conveyed.
Rarely Shown: Tapestries by Gobelins Manufactory, Paris
For centuries artists have depicted the four seasons in their artworks to celebrate the harmony of nature.The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) owns an exceptional set of late 17th- to early 18th-century four season tapestries, woven by the esteemed Gobelins Manufactory (made famous in Louis XIV’s reign).
Due to its fragility, the museum seldom displays the set. But soon—for the first time since 1953—the tapestries will be on display in the exhibition “Cycles of Life: The Four Seasons Tapestries.”
It’s the first time they will be shown since being restored by the CMA’s textile conservator and tapestry conservation specialists at the Belgium royal tapestry manufacturer De Wit. Exhibition visitors will gain an understanding of the unique challenges experts face when preserving delicate textiles.
