The National Gallery London : with a complete catalogue of the paintings

The National Gallery in London houses one of the richest collections of paintings in the world. As Sir Michael Levey says in his preface to Homan Potterton's guide, "No eye will ever exhaust the enjoyment these pictures provide, and a lifetime spent gazing at them is wisely spent." Homan Potterton, an Assistant Keeper at the National Gallery for many years, tells the story of the growth of this great collection and has chosen nearly 350 illustrations of its masterpieces from all periods. A catalogue of the National Gallery's works is included. 345 illus., 75 in color. Homan Potterton Here Gives A Birds's-eye View Of One Of The Richest Collections Of Paintings In The World. Others May Excel In Particular Schools, But The National Gallery Of London Is Unique In It's Coverage Of The Whole Of European Painting, From International Gothic To Post-impressionism. The Illustrations Of Which 75 Are In Color, Include Works By Great Masters Of All Periods: Botticelli And Leonardo, Michelangelo And Titian, El Grecco And Rubens, Rembrandt And Vermeer, Watteau And Gainsborough, Constable And Turner, Degas, Cézanne And (one Of The Gallery's Latest Acquisitions) Klimt. A Novel Feature Is The Inclusion Of Comparative Illustrations Showing Such Things As Related Works, Preliminary Drawings And X-ray Photographs, In Order To Explain A Paintings Evolution. The Introduction Is Divided Into Two Parts. The First Tells The Story Of The Growth Of The Collection. The Second Is A Description Of The Physical Components Of A Painting ( Wood, Canvas, Paint, Varnish) And The Technique Of Cleaning, Restoring And Conserving An Item. The Book Ends With A Complete List Of All The National Gallery's 2,044 Pictures, Forming An Invaluable Reference Catalogue.--cover Page 4. Preface / By Michael Levey -- History Of The Collection -- Conservation Techniques -- Bibliography -- The Plates -- Complete Catalogue Of The Paintings In The National Gallery. Homan Potterton ; With A Preface By Michael Levey And A Complete Catalogue Of The Paintings. Bibliography: P. [24] Offers a brief history of the museum, and shows examples from its collection of Renaissance and sixteenth- through nineteenth-century European paintings