The National Gallery in Washington, D.C. features an extensive collection of artworks spanning from the 13th to the 20th century, highlighting significant artists such as Giotto, Durer, Raphael, and Velazquez. The document discusses various portraits and their historical contexts, emphasizing techniques, styles, and the status of women depicted in art. Additionally, it notes how certain artists, like Rembrandt and Toulouse-Lautrec, contributed uniquely to the evolution of portraiture and genre painting.

1. National Gallery
Washington
Wit a Comprehensive Collection
First created 10 Oct 2021. Version 1.0 - 12 Nov 2021. Daperro. London.
The main building of National Gallery. Washington DC

2. Giotto 1310
Comparing the two Madonnas by
Duccio and Giotto, we can see
how much more expressive Giotto
had made to his Madonna.
Giotto c1310
Duccio 1285

3. Unknown 1410
This is an exceptional fine painting.
Today the painting is attributed to
the Franco-Flemish school.
The sumptuous blue dress
embroidered in gold and the refined
hair-style suggested she was from
the Burgundian Court of central-
eastern region, with French and
German influence.

4. Weyden 1460
This shows the controlled elegance of
a noble woman of self-conscious
dignity. The hairline suggests that she
was from the Burgundian curt.

5. Botticelli 1470

6. Leonardo 1474-78

7. Creole de Roberti 1480
Many of the portraits of women
painted in the 13th and 14th century
were in profile. It is a way to show
female modesty. These paintings
were often hanged next to a male
portrait, who was the head of the
household.
The painting of Ginevra Bentivoglio
(right) was such a companion portrait
of her husband. They were painted,
when the family was at the height of
its political power, when they ruled
the city of Bologna

8. Perugino 1482-85

9. Durer 1496
Durer was very successful. He was
the first artist to use a logo on his
paintings (see above). He also
produced printed works for the
mass market.
Durer’s logo

10. Raphael 1505
Raphael was very successful for
painting Madonna and Child. He
spent his early years painting mostly
Madonna and Child.

11. Bellini 1514
Detail

12. Gerard David 1523
We know Gerard David
was an Early
Netherlandish painter and
a manuscript illuminator.
He was very successful in
his life time and probably
ran two workshops, in
Antwerp and Bruges.

13. Holbein the Younger 1538
Edward VI as a Child.
1538. Oil on panel.
56.8x44 cm. Hans
Holbein the Younger
(1497-1543).
German.

14. Bruegel the Elder 1550

15. Titian 1555
Velvet and fur.

16. Bronzino 1540
Bronzino always painted his patron
ladies with dignity, elegance, rigidity
and controlled demeanor. His style is
so unique that you can easily identify
Bronzino aristocratic portraits. This
lady is probably member of the court
of Cosimo de Medici.

17. Clouet 1571
Francois Clouet was a
miniaturist and known for his
detailed portraits. Here is an
example of such detailed
portrait.

18. Ruben 1615

19. Hals 1633.
Frans Hals is one of the best
portrait around. Often he
painted not just the appearance
but the personality.

20. Velaquez 1640-1650
The painting had left unfinished.
Velazquez was possible the highest
honoured painter in history. He
was part of the royal household.

21. Velazquez painted several copies
Pope Innocent X. There is one
very similar to this one in Apsley
House, London. The above
version is in Galleria Dora
Pamphilj, Rome.
Velaquez c1650

22. Murillo 1655
Two different kinds of smile. Murillo
is well-known for his paintings on
children beggars and ordinary people.
He also painting religious paintings
for the church.
Two different kinds of smile.

23. Ruisdael 1659

24. Rembrandt 1659.
Rembrandt is well-known for his
honest self-portraits. He painted,
etched and drew some 80 image of his
self-portraits.
These images tracked his aging
process. He had great success as an
artist, teacher and dealer. But living
beyond his means and investments in
art caused him to have to declare
bankruptcy in 1656. This self-portrait
was painted a few years after his
bankruptcy.

25. Rembrandt 1656.
Detail

26. Vermeer 1660
The balance of life?

27. Aeistt 1661.
Willen van Asist was a still-life
Dutch Golden Age artist who
specialized on still-life painting in
flowers or game.
Between 1645 and 1649, he lived
in France. In 1649 he travelled
to Florence, where he served as
court painter to Ferinando II de
Medici, grand duke of Tuscany.

28. Canaletto 1744

29. Fragonard 1769
Detail

30. Benjamin West 1776
West’s painting marked a treaty with
the Native American.

31. Reynolds 1779

32. Goya 1786 & 1805

33. Constable 1820

34. Corot 1834

35. Turner 1835

36. Ingres 1851

37. Whistler 1862

38. Heade 1871

39. Monet 1875

40. Renoir 1893
‘Pont Neuf, Paris.’ of 1872 is another
painting of Renoir in the gallery’s
collection.

41. Toulouse-Lautrec 1894
Toulouse-Lautrec came from a rich
family. Unfortunate he felt from
horse-riding at a young age. He
was crippled. He can only find love
from prostitution parlor.
He had left us many paintings of
nightlife in the Red-Light district of
Paris in the late 19th century.

42. Degas 1907

43. Homer 1909

44. Mary Cassatt 1903

45. The East Building. National Gallery Washington DC at night.
The
End
Music – When You Were Sweet Sixteen – Guitar Mood.

46. American Art Galleries