This exhibition highlights some of the finest paintings and drawings of the Italian Renaissance in the Royal Collection.

Early in the sixteenth century, the period known as the High Renaissance, artists such as Raphael and Titian combined the study of nature and of classical art with a mastery of technique. Soon, artists such as Pontormo began to develop a style known as Mannerism, which used intense colours and complex poses. Much painting in central Italy for the rest of the sixteenth century could loosely be described as Mannerist, until the Counter-Reformation prompted a return to a more direct style based on naturalism. Because of the dominant influence of Titian, Venetian artists were more interested in the sensuous possibilities of the oil medium than in the complexities of Mannerism.

The strong representation of Italian Renaissance art in the Royal Collection is primarily due to the tastes of the Stuart kings. Charles I (reg. 1625–49) assembled one of the greatest collections of paintings ever seen in Europe. He brought Italian artists to England, he was presented with paintings as gifts, and he bought extensively, most notably the magnificent Gonzaga collection of Mantua. Charles I’s collection was sold after his execution, but his son Charles II (reg. 1660–85) reclaimed many paintings, made new purchases, and also built up a wonderful collection of Renaissance drawings.