Brilliance and grace

Today I went to the Barocci (1535-1612) exhibition at the National Gallery. He was one of the most celebrated painters of the late Italian Renaissance and it's easy to see why.

This exhibition is a stunning collection of his work, most never seen outside of Italy. From the massive altarpieces to the tiny working sketches he used to begin with.

I was most struck by a simple sketch he made prior to creating one of his Mary pieces. It was simple but so utterly beautiful.

If you like beautiful art, you'll love this exhibition. Though, be warned, it's very hot down there, so don't wear too many clothes.