We must confess that religious paintings are not our favourite subject, and we've tended to regard Spanish Catholic art as being, well, just a little too religious to cope with. So we approached the Francisco de Zurbarán exhibition at the National Gallery in London with a certain amount of trepidation. A degree of contrition is due.... Yes, there were monks, altarpieces and lots of saints, but we were blown away by Zurbarán's ability to depict textures and fabrics and to convey an intensity of feeling. It's an absolutely excellent exhibition, full of truly beautiful paintings. Such religious art was intended to bring the faithful closer to God, to bridge the gap between Heaven and Earth, in an age when many could not read. Zurbarán was a master at it. Let's start with a saint: Just take a look at the fabrics, trimmings and gems in this picture. And the garments are even more striking when you are stood in front of this nearly life-size figure. This is Casild...
It's one of art's most famous images, though probably not the version you're most familiar with. A black-and-white lithograph of The Scream will be on show at the British Museum in London from April 11 to July 21 as part of Edvard Munch: Love and Angst. The exhibition will focus on the Norwegian Expressionist's prints, with nearly 50 from the Munch Museum in Oslo and a total of 83 artworks on display. Two key sections of the show demonstrate his passion for women, and his fear of them, the museum says.
The next show at the National Gallery is of new work by Irish-born Sean Scully. Sea Star's abstract stripes and chequerboards with their thickly applied paint are inspired by JMW Turner's seascape The Evening Star. April 13 to August 11, and admission is free.
At the British Library, a new exhibition looks at Writing: Making Your Mark across 5,000 years and seven continents. More than 100 objects range from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs through the first printed edition of The Canterbury Tales to James Joyce's annotated copy of Ulysses. The show runs from April 26 to August 27.
It's the 50th anniversary this year of man's first Moon landing, and the Watts Gallery in Compton, near Guildford, is taking the opportunity to explore 19th-century depictions of the Moon. Moonscapes features pictures by the likes of William Holman Hunt, John Atkinson Grimshaw and GF Watts himself. In orbit over Surrey from April 2 to June 23.
And if you complete half an orbit round London on the M25 from Compton, you'll get to the Henry Moore Studios in Perry Green in Hertfordshire, which reopen on April 3 for the summer. This year's special exhibition is Henry Moore Drawings: The Art of Seeing, the biggest show of his drawings in more than four decades, complementing the sculptures scattered round the gardens of Moore's former home. On until October 27.
The Leopold Museum in Vienna is presenting a huge Oskar Kokoschka retrospective devoted to one of the most prominent artists of the 20th century. The show has already been on at the Kunsthaus in Zurich and features 250 works, some of which have rarely or never been exhibited. April 6 to July 8.
Schoolchild’s homework in Greek on a wax tablet, Egypt, 2nd century AD. (c) British Library
Oskar Kokoschka, Self-Portrait, One Hand Touching the Face, 1918-19. (c) Leopold Museum, Vienna
At the British Library, a new exhibition looks at Writing: Making Your Mark across 5,000 years and seven continents. More than 100 objects range from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs through the first printed edition of The Canterbury Tales to James Joyce's annotated copy of Ulysses. The show runs from April 26 to August 27.
And if you complete half an orbit round London on the M25 from Compton, you'll get to the Henry Moore Studios in Perry Green in Hertfordshire, which reopen on April 3 for the summer. This year's special exhibition is Henry Moore Drawings: The Art of Seeing, the biggest show of his drawings in more than four decades, complementing the sculptures scattered round the gardens of Moore's former home. On until October 27.
The Leopold Museum in Vienna is presenting a huge Oskar Kokoschka retrospective devoted to one of the most prominent artists of the 20th century. The show has already been on at the Kunsthaus in Zurich and features 250 works, some of which have rarely or never been exhibited. April 6 to July 8.
Last chance to see....
If you're in Oslo, the Munch Museum is showing The Swan Princess until April 21: a rare chance to view late 19th-century Russian paintings from Moscow's Tretyakov Gallery in the West alongside works by Munch and other Nordic artists. Some of it we liked a lot; and some we didn't.
Back in London, you have until April 22 to enjoy John Ruskin: The Power of Seeing at Two Temple Place. It's a really good (and free) show about the visionary Victorian art critic, and the venue is a stunning exhibit in its own right.
The current exhibition at London's Queen's Gallery, Russia, Royalty and Romanovs, closes on April 28. The show looks at the relationships between Britain and Russia and their royal families; an interesting history lesson, but the artworks aren't as enthralling as those the Royal Collection generally offers.
Back in London, you have until April 22 to enjoy John Ruskin: The Power of Seeing at Two Temple Place. It's a really good (and free) show about the visionary Victorian art critic, and the venue is a stunning exhibit in its own right.
The current exhibition at London's Queen's Gallery, Russia, Royalty and Romanovs, closes on April 28. The show looks at the relationships between Britain and Russia and their royal families; an interesting history lesson, but the artworks aren't as enthralling as those the Royal Collection generally offers.
Images
Edvard Munch, The Scream, 1895, Private Collection, Norway. Photo: Thomas WiderbergSchoolchild’s homework in Greek on a wax tablet, Egypt, 2nd century AD. (c) British Library
Oskar Kokoschka, Self-Portrait, One Hand Touching the Face, 1918-19. (c) Leopold Museum, Vienna
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