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The Nationwide Tour
As part of the National Gallery's commitment to ensure that Raphael's 'Madonna of the Pinks' is seen by as many people as possible, four venues from across the country have enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to exhibit this exquisite masterpiece. Beginning at the Manchester Art Gallery (1 May - 27 June 2004), the picture will then tour over a period of one year to the National Museum and Gallery in Cardiff, the McLellan Galleries in Glasgow, and the Bowes Museum, Co Durham.
In each case, the 'Madonna of the Pinks' will be shown alongside two travelling companions from the National Gallery that also depict the Madonna and Child. Together, the pictures will show how painted representations of this subject, rendered so tender and intimate by Raphael, evolved over 100 years during the Italian Renaissance. The earliest of the pictures will be Domenico Ghirlandaio's beautiful yet traditional and formalised 'Virgin and Child' (probably about 1480-90), and the latest, Titian's almost abstract 'Virgin and Child' (probably 1570-6). The exhibition will demonstrate the great achievement of the Renaissance in emphasising the humanity of the familiar subjects of the Virgin and Child. The National Gallery will be working closely with each venue to ensure that accompanying education and community programmes will open out a discussion of the exhibition to ensure maximum accessibility and to answer particular regional requirements.
The Raphael Exhibition
Raphael's 'Madonna of the Pinks' will form the centrepiece of a National Gallery 'Raphael: From Urbino to Rome' exhibition (20 October 2004-16 January 2005). The first major exhibition of paintings and drawings by the Renaissance painter to be held in Britain, it will follow Raphael's dramatic stylistic evolution from his origins in Urbino to his works produced under the enlightened patronage of Pope Julius II in Rome. Drawing on the rich holdings of the National Gallery's collection and major international loans, the exhibition will explore the meaning and historical context of Raphael's works, his techniques and how these developed. Highlights will include the 'Alba Madonna' from Washington, the 'Conestabile Madonna' from the Hermitage, the 'Saint George and Saint Michael' from the Louvre and the 'Self Portrait' from the Uffizi.
The Education Programme
The National Gallery's purchase of Raphael's 'Madonna of the Pinks' is pivotal to the wider goals of audience development and social inclusion to which the Gallery is strongly committed. The nature of the relationship between the Mother and Child in Raphael's 'Madonna of the Pinks' is unique in the collection. Pilot projects undertaken as part of the Gallery's outreach programme suggest that its chief impact is one of intimacy, breaking down the barriers often associated with old masters. The 'Madonna of the Pinks' underpins many of the Gallery's education and community programmes providing an essential point of comparison for projects exploring the cross-cultural themes of mother and child, love, family relationships, self awareness and identity.
Over the past four years, the Gallery has initiated a number of creative partnerships with children, families, young people, Looked After Children (children and young people in care), schools, the homeless and wider communities. The National Gallery aims to utilise Raphael's 'Madonna of the Pinks' to further develop this outreach programme, targeting new audiences and broadening access to the collection.
For further information, please contact the National Gallery Press Office on Tel: 020 7747 2865.
February 2004
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