Lorenzo Lotto: Portraits, Exhibition, The National Gallery, London: 5 November 2018 – 10 February 2019

This is archived material. It is for reference purposes only.

The National Gallery, in partnership with the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid, is displaying an exhibition of Lorenzo Lotto’s portrait paintings, the first of its kind in the UK until 10 February 2019.

Lotto was active in the early to mid 16th  century and was influenced by other Italian Renaissance painters such as Bellini and Raphael, although he has a distinctive style of his own. Lotto’s paintings are known for their bright, saturated colours, bold shadows and his use of symbolism. Although he was born in Venice and trained there, Lotto worked throughout Italy, so his works were influenced by other Northern Italian styles and his sitters were from a range of different cities. As well as portraits, Lotto, who was very religious, also worked on devotional images and altarpieces, and his later works particularly reflect his spiritualism.

He painted portraits of diverse cross-section of the Italian middle class, including men, women, children, religious and lay people. Lotto used  objects alongside his subjects to show  their occupation, interests and position in society, making  a very personal and intimate portrait  of the sitter, giving an insight into their private lives. Lotto’s impeccable attention rendered the features of his subjects and their possessions in immense detail.

The exhibition also includes  extracts from Lotto’s accounts, which give a glaimpse into  the artist’s own every day life. These accounts are as detailed as his paintings, and describe Lotto’s sitters as well as his own thoughts and feelings.

The National Gallery

Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN

Opening times

Saturday – Thursday: 10:00 - 18:00
Friday: 10:00 - 21:00

Lorenzo Lotto Marsilio Cassotti and his wife Faustina.  1523 Oil on canvas 71 × 84 cm © Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid
Lorenzo Lotto Marsilio Cassotti and his wife Faustina. 1523 Oil on canvas 71 × 84 cm © Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid
Lorenzo Lotto  The Physician Giovanni Agostino della Torre and his Son, Niccolò  Short title: Giovanni Agostino della Torre and his Son, Niccolò  about 1513-16  Oil on canvas  85 x 68.2 cm  © The National Gallery, London
Lorenzo Lotto The Physician Giovanni Agostino della Torre and his Son, Niccolò Short title: Giovanni Agostino della Torre and his Son, Niccolò about 1513-16 Oil on canvas 85 x 68.2 cm © The National Gallery, London
Lorenzo Lotto  Portrait of Giovanni della Volta with his Wife and Children  completed 1547  Oil on canvas  104.5 x 138 cm  © The National Gallery, London
Lorenzo Lotto Portrait of Giovanni della Volta with his Wife and Children completed 1547 Oil on canvas 104.5 x 138 cm © The National Gallery, London
Lorenzo Lotto  Portrait of a Woman inspired by Lucretia  about 1530-2  Oil on canvas  96.5 x 110.6 cm  © The National Gallery, London
Lorenzo Lotto Portrait of a Woman inspired by Lucretia about 1530-2 Oil on canvas 96.5 x 110.6 cm © The National Gallery, London

Opening Hours

Monday:
10:00 - 18:00
Tuesday:
10:00 - 18:00
Wednesday:
10:00 - 18:00
Thursday:
10:00 - 18:00
Friday:
10:00 - 21:00
Saturday:
10:00 - 18:00
Sunday:
10:00 - 18:00