In some cases - undermining our understanding of the way they worked, perhaps - these were preparatory for later paintings, but in other cases they were giving new value to works on paper, producing drawings which were works of art in their own right, and re-introducing the use of pastel after its fashionable status in the 18th Century had declined. In all cases the imagery has the freshness, immediacy, and richness of colour we would expect from these, the most approachable of artists. 

The classification 'Impressionist' in the exhibition is broad ranging, including as it does some of the 'Post Impressionists' - the ever-popular Vincent van Gogh (who never exhibited with the group, even if he was enormously influenced by the artists involved), and Georges Seurat (who did). However, it was the 'poster girl' for this exhibition which first grabbed my attention. Looking like a superb, refined pastel by Degas it is in fact an excellent work by Federico Zandomeneghi - an Italian artist with whom I am not so familiar - but looking forward to getting to know better, if this is anything to go by!