Unexpected views

Monthly discussions about art with some of the most important cultural practitioners today

Discussions focus on a selected masterpiece from the National Gallery Collection, exploring its relevance to the artist’s work, or more broadly to current social and cultural issues.

Unexpected views: Alketa Xhafa Mripa on Artemisia Gentileschi's self portrait

Conceptual artist Alketa Xhafa Mripa talks to Rev Dr Ayla Lepine about Artemisia's 'Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria' in relation to the art and religion research theme, Crossing Borders

Video (part of a series), suitable for key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5

Unexpected views: Harold Offeh on Botticelli's 'Venus and Mars'

Offeh chats to curator Priyesh Mistry about Botticelli's iconic painting in relation to his own artistic practice.

Interview (part of a series), suitable for key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5

Unexpected views: Andy Holden on Murillo's 'Self Portrait'

Take a journey through artist and musician Andy’s reflections on self image, illusion, meta-painting and cartoon realities... all in connection to Murillo’s 'Self Portrait'.

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Unexpected views: Cécile B. Evans on Salvator Rosa's 'Witches at their Incantations'

Evans draws a comparison between the themes of their own work and those of Salvator Rosa with curator Daniel Herrmann

Interview (part of a series), suitable for key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5

Unexpected views: Hanna Tuulikki on Piero del Pollaiuolo's 'Apollo and Daphne'

Hanna shares some new and unconventional ways of looking at and interpreting the subject of this small but powerful painting.

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Unexpected views: Zadie Xa and Benito Mayor Vallejo on Poussin's 'Adoration of the Golden Calf'

Contemporary artists Zadie Xa and Benito Mayor Vallejo discuss one of Poussin's greatest works with curator Priyesh Mistry

Video (part of a series), suitable for key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5

Unexpected views: Ali Cherri on Henri Rousseau's 'Surprised!'

Ali Cherri, our 2021 Artist in Residence, takes a contemporary look at nature with Rousseau's 'Surprised!'

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Unexpected views: Tom Lovelace on Georges Seurat's ' Bathers at Asnières'

Artist Tom Lovelace discusses his continuing affinity with Seurat's 'Bathers at  Asnières', the inspiration for his reflective performance 'Bathers' at the Gallery.

Video (part of a series), suitable for key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5

Unexpected views: Andrew Grassie on Piero della Francesca's  'Baptism of Christ'

Artist Andrew Grassie discusses what it is about Piero's painting that stays relevant to his process and his work

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Unexpected views: Liz Johnson Artur on Degas's 'Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando'

Liz Johnson Artur explores the painting's innovative composition and perspective

Video (part of a series), suitable for key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5

Unexpected views: Amie Siegel on Stubbs's 'Whistlejacket'

Amie Siegel tells us about her relationship with the painting and its influence on a recent work

Video (part of a series), suitable for key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5

Unexpected views: Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings

Hannah Quinlan and Rosie Hastings explore Uccello's 'The Battle of San Romano'

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Unexpected views: Chantal Joffe on Titian's 'Diana and Callisto'

Contemporary painter Chantal Joffe describes her first encounter with Titian’s ‘Diana and Callisto’, relating her own experience of the figures it contains to those of Lucian Freud

Video (part of a series), suitable for key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5

Unexpected views: Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard

Artists and filmmakers Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard explore the cinematic qualities of Paul Delaroche’s ‘The Execution of Lady Jane Grey’

Video (part of a series), suitable for key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5

Unexpected views: Amalia Pica on Panini's 'The Lottery in Piazza di Montecitorio'

Artist Amalia Pica explores the theme of people coming together in celebration through Panini's crowded Roman scene.

Video (part of a series), suitable for key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5

Unexpected views: Céline Condorelli on Pontormo's 'Joseph with Jacob in Egypt'

Céline Condorelli, our Artist in Residence 2023, explores the relevance of Pontormo's painting and its fantasy architectural setting to her own work.

Video (part of a series), suitable for key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5

Linked Lives: A Poet, An Abolitionist and An Aristocrat : How did we trace these portraits in London to a poet in New Orleans?

Poet Madeleine Le Cesne discovers the astonishing story of her family’s history at two neighbouring London galleries.

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Unexpected views: Jananne Al-Ani on Egbert van der Poel's 'A View of Delft after the Explosion of 1654'

Artist Jananne Al-Ani talks about the interesting parallels she found between this small painting, a relatively new find for her in the collection, and her own research

Video (part of a series), suitable for key stage 3, key stage 4 and key stage 5