Piero della Francesca's 'The Baptism of Christ'
Picture of the month May 2024
In celebration of our 200th birthday, Director Gabriele Finaldi has picked one of his favourite works in the collection.
About
To celebrate our 200th birthday, National Gallery Director Gabriele Finaldi has chosen Piero della Francesca's 'The Baptism of Christ' to be May's Picture of the Month.
He explores the story behind the painting as well as admiring Piero's artistic skills.
Digital activity at the National Gallery is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator
More in the series
Michelangelo's 'The Entombment'
Picture of the month April 2024
Why would Michelangelo leave a work unfinished? Courses and Events Programmer Caroline Miller and Gallery Educator Bethan Durie investigate with a close look at 'The Entombment'
Alexandrine-Emilie Brongniart
Picture of the month March 2024
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we take a closer look at a charming portrait by one of the most popular female artists in the collection, Elisabeth Louise Vigée le Brun
The myth and image of Narcissus
Picture of the month February 2024
Narcissus's tale of tragic beauty and forbidden desire has long inspired artists. Through images from the Renaissance to today, Holly James Johnston explores how the myth has particularly resonated with queer artistic and literary circles
Meindert Hobbema's 'The Avenue at Middelharnis'
Picture of the month January 2024
Start the year with a mindful look at this Dutch landscape, guided by Lucia van der Drift
Fra Filippo Lippi's 'The Annunciation'
Picture of the month December 2023
Curatorial Fellow Nicholas Flory takes a look at the details in Lippi's painting of the Archangel Gabriel with Mary – the painting voted your picture of the month
Bermejo's 'Saint Michael Triumphs over the Devil'
Picture of the month November 2023
Curator Daniel Sobrino Ralston tells us why Bermejo's late Gothic-demon was the stuff of nightmares in its day
Rubens's 'Roman Triumph'
Picture of the month October 2023
Student and Articulation alumna Catherine Ahura gives her personal response to Rubens’s 'Roman Triumph'
Ferdinand Hodler's 'Kien Valley with the Bluemlisalp Massif'
Picture of the month September 2023
Curator Christopher Riopelle takes a closer look at Hodler's vibrant Swiss landscape – the painting voted your picture of the month
Paula Rego's 'Crivelli's Garden'
Picture of the month August 2023
Former National Gallery Educator Ailsa Bhattacharya, and Lecturer Lizzie Perrotte tell us what it was like sitting for Paula Rego's mural 'Crivelli's Garden'
Jazz musician Arun Ghosh on Zurbarán's Saint Francis
Picture of the month July 2023
Award-winning clarinettist and composer Arun Ghosh reveals how he's taken peace and inspiration from Saint Francis, with curator Joost Joustra
'For Philip II, King of Spain': A new poem by Maz Hedgehog
Picture of the month June 2023
Maz Hedgehog performs a new poem responding to Titian's 'Diana and Callisto', and discusses the complex relationship between artists and their patrons, with Fiona Alderton