In spite of the National Gallery's impressive collection - they own nine of the 80 surviving works - this is Britain's first ever major retrospective of the career of Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velázquez (1599-1660).
The leading artist in the court of King Philip IV, Velazquez is most famed as a portrait painter of rare skill, bringing perfectly observed psychology and intense dignity to his carefully observed subjects. This exhibition includes the three exquisite portraits he made of the royal children, and his sensitive portrait of Lezcano, the court dwarf. More dramatic are his classical and Biblical scenes, including the luminous 'Apollo at the Forge of Vulcan' and 'The Temptation of St Thomas Aquinas'.
There will be an unprecedented response to this blockbuster show, and The National Gallery have moved a large chunk of their permanent collection out to the Sainsbury Wing to make room for the crowds. Book early if you want to visit at the weekend.
National Gallery Valentine's Day Tours
Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN
Valentine's Day, 14th February 2008
Dominating Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery's imposing presence is a wonderfully romantic... More
The Art of Love at The National Dining Rooms
National Dining Rooms, WC2N 5DN
14th February 2010
Combine fine dining with a spot of culture with a romantic... More
Venice: Canaletto and his Rivals
National Gallery, WC2N 5DN
13th October 2010 - 16th January 2011
Canaletto, the Venetian painter famous for his landscapes, or vedute, of Venice,... More
London's Theatreland is the finest in the world, with swarms of Hollywood stars making pilgrimages across the pond to tread the hallowed boards of ... More
The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche is one of the most famous paintings in London's National Gallery. The painting showing a blindfolded ...More
Canaletto, the Venetian painter famous for his landscapes, or vedute, of Venice, is the star of the National Gallery's display of Venetian views, Venice: Canaletto and ...More
Overlooking Leicester Square - the setting for London’s regular film premieres - the Radisson Edwardian Hampshire has glamorous, exclusive décor to match its high-profile setting: ... More
Set in between Trafalgar and Leicester Squares and right next to the National Portrait Gallery, the Thistle Trafalgar Square is a modern hotel set in ... More
The National Gallery dominates London's Trafalgar Square with its neo-classical columns and portico designed by William Wilkins adjoining the square on its east side where ... More
The National Portrait Gallery houses portraits of significant figures from the late 15th century to the present day. This isn't the place to come for ... More
From budding Harry Potters and bumbling Tommy Coopers to dynamic David Copperfields, Davenports is a haven for magicians of every level and ability. Non-magicians too ... More
Intrepid explorers already know where to travel for the best selection of maps and travel books. Stanford's should be the first pit stop on any ... More
The National Gallery's National Dining Rooms restaurant won Time Out's Best British Restaurant Award in 2007 for good reasons - they do all sorts of ... More
Katana has all the right ingredients for success. An amazing location, highly trained chefs and slick décor combine to create an oasis of elegance amid ... More
The Courtauld is one of the most prestigious art schools in the country, affiliated with the Oxbridge system and boasting a huge private location and ... More
Imperial College London is the foremost medical training faculty in the country but for non-medical graduates wishing for a change of career, King’s is the ... More
This day spa exclusively for women is a total pampering experience from the minute you step through the door. Located in bustling Covent Garden you'll ... More
In the shadow of both Centrepoint and St Giles-in-the-Fields Church, hidden from most tourists and residents alike, lies this beautiful West End garden. Originally a ... More
Pop "Doonstairs" from Trafalgar Square's Scottish bar and restaurant Albannach and you will enter the world of Doon, a new cocktail lounge named after the ... More
Hotel bar on Trafalgar Square with public roof terrace.
This bar is all about location, location, location. Just a few steps from Nelson's Column, the Trafalgar ... More
Concealed in a particularly squalid and touristy corner of Piccadilly Circus is Bar Rumba, the bar that has kept the UK's Urban scene alive in ... More
This
was once a sleazy Soho strip club, as the name suggests, and it really
shows. Deep reds are the dominant colour, with mirrors, booths and
velvet curtains ... More
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