Where will we be:

The National Gallery is the unique place to learn the story of European art, masterpiece by masterpiece. Unlike comparable museums in continental Europe, nationalizing an existing royal or princely art collection did not form the National Gallery. It came into being when the British government bought the 38 initial paintings. The collection is small in size, compared with many European national galleries, but encyclopedic in scope.

What we’ll do:

At the National Gallery, we will travel through the history of European art, focusing on the paintings of the Dutch Golden Age (Seventeenth-century) and Impressionists in particular. Rembrandt, Vermeer, Judith Leyster and Rachel Ruysch and their Flemish counterparts, Rubens and Van Dyck, are just a few artists we will be looking at. We will then spend some time looking at an excellent selection of work by Cezanne, Monet, Renoir, Picasso and others we can describe as the first truly modern artists, all of whom sought inspiration in the Northern art of the past.

From Impressionism to Abstraction, the art of the Dutch Golden Age was highly influential. Hopefully, after these 2 hours spent together, you will leave with a deeper understanding of what the art of Old Masters was all about, and why it was so important for the development of the modern art that followed.

All levels are welcome, no previous knowledge of art is required.

About your guide:

Julija Svetlova is an art historian, freelance researcher and founder of www.nejasartwalks.com, a provider of art and history-related experiences in London (IG @nejasartwalks). She has previously worked as a Collection Research Assistant at the Tate and is now hosting one of the most successful Art Experiences in London.

Costs: £35/head