Through the 1880s the very essence of representation, meaning and process in Western art were profoundly interrogated. Plausible representations of the external world were cast aside in favour of non-naturalism expressed in varying degrees, from modest distortions of reality to pure abstraction. The decades that followed, up to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, were a complex, vibrant period of artistic questioning, searching, risk-taking and innovation. Concentrating on this period of great upheaval, this book will explore the constructive dialogue between painting and sculpture, and the influential roles played by three giants of the era, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh, across European art as a whole. While acknowledging the centrality of Paris as a cultural capital, it will also uniquely highlight other centres of artistic ferment in Europe, from Brussels and Barcelona to Berlin and Vienna, and track the variety of routes into modernism in the early twentieth century. This fully illustrated catalogue will contain four essays, introductions to each city of ferment and biographies of the artists. Published by National Gallery Global/Distributed by Yale University Press Exhibition Schedule: The National Gallery, London 25 March–13 August 2023

Exploring the life, imagery and lasting appeal of Saint Francis of Assisi (1182–1226), this landmark book features a core of important historic paintings representing the saint by Giotto, Sassetta, Caravaggio, Zurbarán and El Greco. From his native Umbria, Saint Francis’s image spread rapidly to become a global phenomenon and a continuous source of artistic fascination. His commitment to the poor, powerful appeals for peace, openness to dialogue with other religions and embryonic environmentalism radically impacted the Church and society of his time, and still hold great interest today.   Spanning seven centuries and ranging from the earliest, relic-like objects to contemporary art in a variety of media, including works by Antony Gormley, Giuseppe Penone and a new commission from Richard Long, Saint Francis of Assisi reflects on the lasting legacy of Saint Francis – an inherently modern figure who retains a universal appeal. Published by National Gallery Global/Distributed by Yale University Press  Exhibition Schedule: The National Gallery, London, 6 May–30 July 2023