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Duccio: The Virgin and Child with saint Dominic and saint Aurea, and Patriarchs
and Prophets, about 1312-15 (?). Egg tempera on wood 61.4 x 39.3 cm
© The National Gallery, London.
FESTIVE STAR TRAIL AT THE
NATIONAL GALLERY
Celebrate the festive season at the
National Gallery with a series of
activities and events designed around
the star theme. Stars and constellations
have always been a source of inspiration
for artists and our fascination with the
night sky can be tracked back across
centuries. Stars twinkle and shimmer
throughout the National Gallery
Collection and during the festive season
they will present a series of films,
education events, and an in-gallery trail
to encourage visitors to search, discover
and learn about the stars of the Gallery.
The film series begins with Painting
Stars. From the dazzling representations
of stars in early medieval religious
works, often made of real gold, to the
freer depiction of stars in the work of
Turner and the Impressionists, this film
explores the different techniques used by
artists to reveal the shimmer and
brightness of stars.
Stargazing is an observation of the
17th and 18th centuries when stars were
being scrutinised by astronomers and
astrologers searching to understand our
place in the universe. Many paintings in
the National Gallery Collection feature
figures surrounded by celestial globes
and astronomical instruments as
representations either of the science or
craft they were involved in, or as status
symbols showing that they were at the
forefront of learning. These
representations of stars are testimony
of how stars have been a constant
source of inspiration and fascination for
both artists and scientists.
Myth-making Stars explores Greek
and Roman mythology, where stars were
often associated with Gods and
Goddesses. In the Renaissance there
was a renewed interest among artists in
depicting classical subject matters and
this film explores how artists
prominently featured stars when
revisiting classical myths.
The film will have subtitles in
Spanish, Portuguese (Brazilian and
European), Italian, French, German,
Russian, Arabic and Turkish.
Visitors can also head along for a
series of special pop-up festive film
screenings in the splendour of the Wohl
Room, in association with Leffe, and
enjoy Christmas favourites featuring
some of cinema’s best known stars.
Arrive early for exclusive after-hours
access to some of the paintings from the
Star Trail, and from the festive bar enjoy
a complimentary Leffe Blond or Leffe
Christmas. Over-18s only.
For further information and details of
more festive events, visit the website
www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Carlo Dolci: The Adoration of the Kings,
1649. Oil on canvas 117 x 92 cm
© The National Gallery, London
t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g a z i n e • t h i s i s l o n d o n o n l i n e