This summer promises a host of unmissable exhibitions. From Fra Angelico at the Prado and Natalia Goncharova at Tate Modern to French modern masters at the Hermitage and Manga at the British Museum, there is something to suit all tastes. Read on for some of our favourite picks:
Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid
28 May – 15 September
At the Prado, ‘Fra Angelico and the Rise of the Florentine Renaissance’ includes 82 works loaned by more than 40 institutions in Europe and America, and explores the artistic significance of the early Florentine Renaissance. The highlight of the show is Fra Angelico’s ‘The Annunciation’, recently restored and shown alongside ‘The Virgin of the Pomegranate’, a new addition to the Museum’s collection. Known for his rejection of the preceding Gothic style, Fra Angelico embraced the new artistic language of the period and his pious and beautiful works are exhibited with an extensive group of works by his contemporaries including Masaccio, Masolino, Donatello and Ghiberti.
The Queen’s Gallery, London
24 May – 13 October
Marking the 500th anniversary of the death of the Italian legend, ‘Leonardo Da Vinci: A Life in Drawing’ at The Queen’s Gallery presents more than 200 of the Renaissance master’s greatest drawings in the Royal Collection, forming the largest exhibition of Leonardo’s work in over 65 years. As well as being beautiful and skilful works of art, the drawings are also a fascinating insight into the mind of the artist, demonstrating his insatiable curiosity and his endless investigations into many different areas.
The Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles
Ongoing
Opened in 2017 and located in a hulking former Masonic Temple, the Marciano Art Foundation is one of a group of contemporary art museums which recently opened in Los Angeles. In 2006 brothers Paul and Maurice Marciano, the co-founders of GUESS?, began collecting art created post-1990 and this new institution is designed to share the results with the wider public. Including works by artists such as Albert Oehlen, Allora & Calzadilla, Cyprien Gaillard and Christian Marclay, it gives fascinating insight into the constantly changing art scene in Los Angeles and promises to be a popular addition to the city. Currently on view are exhibitions on Yayoi Kusama, Catherine Opie, Ugo Rondinone, and a display showcasing over 40 works by 30 artists who live and work in California.
British Museum, London
23 May – 26 August
The largest exhibition of Manga outside of Japan is currently on show at the British Museum. The Japanese word used to refer to comics or cartoons, manga originally translates as “pictures run riot” and the visual fantasy of manga artists is tireless. This exhibition spans it’s 200-year history, including a focus on its influence over anime and video games. Although some questions have been raised as to whether the art form merits an exhibition at the British Museum, it’s a fascinating show and it’s more than worth a visit to come to your own conclusion.
Tate Modern, London
6 June – 8 September
Natalia Goncharova’s star has been on the rise over the last decade and this summer, Tate Modern will present the first retrospective of the Russian artist ever held in the UK, with the majority of the works never having been seen in the UK. The remarkable artist established herself as the leader of the Russian avant-garde with a major exhibition in Moscow in 1913. She subsequently moved to France where she designed costumes and backdrops for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes. Her huge artistic output was wide-ranging and at times controversial, but the influence of her work can be seen in the art movements of the 20th century. This breath-taking show explores the variety of her inspiration, from Russian folk art and textiles to the latest trends in modernism.
The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
21 June – 6 October
In the early 20th century, the Morozov and Shchukin families were influential patrons with a tremendous influence on cultural life in Moscow. Their collections of work by French Impressionist and Modern artists are among the finest in the world; today they are housed in museums in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Following the landmark exhibition of the Shchukin Collection which travelled to the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris in 2016-17, this collection will show highlights from the Morozov Brothers, bringing together over 100 works from the Hermitage and more than 30 from the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow. Expect masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Gauguin, Matisse and Picasso. In 2020, the exhibition will be shown at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris.
