John Linnell – Kensington Gravel Pits

Nige reflects on a precocious talent, and his disappointing son-in-law... I was up at Tate Britain, mooching among the rehung Romantics, when this very accomplished oil painting caught my eye. Its subject is Kensington Gravel Pits, and it was painted in 1811/12 - when Kensington was still a village surrounded by ... Read More...

Marinus van Reymerswaele – Two Tax Gatherers

Continuing our series looking at great paintings housed in London's National Gallery... Dating from around 1540, this arresting painting depicts an unlovely pair of taxmen, evidently just as popular in 16th century Zeeland (in the Netherlands) as they are everywhere today. It is agreed to be unlikely that Marinus painted from a ... Read More...