For the subject see Ovid, ' Metamorphoses' (6). Apollo defeated the satyr Marsyas in a musical competition; as a punishment for failure, Apollo flayed him. The picture was originally above the door of the Stanza di Apollo in Villa Aldobrandini, hence its fo ...

Mary, Joseph & Jesus are shown travelling to Egypt. In the background are shown the Miracles of the Corn & of the Statue (legends associated with the Flight into Egypt). In the first, corn sprang up miraculously overnight so labourers could tell soldiers looking for the family that they had passed by before the corn had grown, & so mislead them into thinking this was long ago. Statues of pagan idols were said to have fallen as the Holy Family passed by. The Massacre of the Innocents is also shown, from which the Holy Family preserved the infant Jesus by their escape to Egypt. This panel & ' The Visitation of the Virgin to Saint Elizabeth', by the same workshop, are from the same altarpiece. ...

Create your own bespoke print of The Forerunners of Christ with Saints & Martyrs probably by Fra Angelico from our collection. About this painting The Forerunners of Christ with Saints & Martyrs: Inner Right Predella Panel, about 1423-4 © The National Gallery, London This painting joined our collection in 1860 With our custom print service, you can order your own fully customised reproduction from the National Gallery Collection & exhibitions. Choose your own size, print material & frames & have your masterpiece delivered straight to your door. ...

This is one of a number of pictures by Barye of the Forest of Fontainebleau, possibly showing the rocks at the Gorges d' Apremont. Barye was a member of the group of landscape painters working in this area known as the Barbizon school. He is best known for ...

This is probably the ' Quatre ages de l'homme' by Valentin mentioned in the inventory of Michel Particelli, Seigneur d' Hemery, Paris, 1650. The picture was certainly in the celebrated collection of the Dukes of Orleans during most of the 18th century. Infan ...

Children play within a loggia, pulling along a girl on a toy cart, while a nurse who holds an infant looks on. This is the first of a series of four canvases by Lancret (all in the Collection) which represent the Four Ages of Man
- ' Childhood', ‘ Adolescence’, ' Youth', & ' Old Age'. The series, was engraved by Nicolas de Larmessin III; these engravings were announced as issued in July 1735, & it may be assumed that the pictures were painted not long before.
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A young girl rejects the advances of an old man at the left. At the right two elderly women are seated, one spinning & the other asleep. The seated figures may have been inspired by the peasant scenes of the Le Nain brothers. This is the last in a series of four canvases by Lancret (all in the Collection) which represent the Four Ages of Man
- ' Childhood', ‘ Adolescence’, ' Youth', & ' Old Age'.
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In the foreground stand two archers, one of whom shoots at an unseen target on top of the pole. Behind them are men & women engaged in amorous pursuits. Such encounters in wooded settings, as shown at left & in the background, had become a popular theme in art, inspired in particular by the paintings of Watteau & prints after them. This is the third in a series of four canvases by Lancret (all in the Collection) which represent the Four Ages of Man
- ' Childhood', ‘ Adolescence’, ' Youth', & ' Old Age'.
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Create your own bespoke print of Joachim Beuckelaer’s The Four Elements: Air from our collection. About this painting The Four Elements: Air, 1570 © The National Gallery, London This painting joined our collection in 2001 With our custom print service, you can order your own fully customised reproduction from the National Gallery Collection & exhibitions. Choose your own size, print material & frames & have your masterpiece delivered straight to your door. ...

Create your own bespoke print of Joachim Beuckelaer’s The Four Elements: Earth from our collection. About this painting The Four Elements: Earth, 1569 © The National Gallery, London This painting joined our collection in 2001 With our custom print service, you can order your own fully customised reproduction from the National Gallery Collection & exhibitions. Choose your own size, print material & frames & have your masterpiece delivered straight to your door. ...