Discovering Liotard

at the National Gallery, London 

until 3 March 2024 

The Swiss artist Jean-Etienne Liotard was brought to the attention of 21st century art enthusiasts in London by an exhibition at the Royal Academy which opened as long ago now as October 2015. It was four years later that the National Gallery acquired The Laverne Family Breakfast, which is not only the second work of the master in the Gallery's collection, but is now also the focus of their second DISCOVER exhibition.

Starting with an examination of the pastel technique in which Liotard excelled, the painting is then explored within the context of the artist's life and work. For the first time in 250 the pastel can be compared with Liotard's own, later version of the composition in oils - thus allowing a comparison of the two media, and the effects which each create. There are also studies of his interest in travel, in portraiture, and in porcelain - the depiction of texture, colour and form being some of the artist's chief interests. 

As ever, the talk will be a through introduction to the exhibition, allowing you to learn more about Liotard's life and work, as well as refreshing your knowledge of the endlessly fascinating technique of painting with pastels.