When: closing June 9, 2019
The big show of the season at the National Gallery is the Tintoretto retrospective (about which more presently), but there are two other, smaller shows that are also concerned with the artist and his times. Of course, they are not the blockbuster that the main show is, but they're also less crowded, and if you're a fan of prints and drawings, they have much to offer.
There's a misconception that Tintoretto just slapped the paint on the canvas, with little preparation. I gather this is due to his style of painting, which shows lots of hasty brushwork. Tintoretto was called an "impetuous genius"; the genius part is true, but the impetuosity is not.
Although Tintoretto had a lifelong engagement with drawing, his works are not well-known. This show sets out to remedy that situation, by showing the range of drawings he made, in preparation for his paintings. He worked out the positions of his figures; he copied great sculptures; he taught his pupils - all by drawing.
In addition to pen and ink works, there's also a one-room examination of prints in the period of Tintoretto's career. It's a little "add on" to the drawing show - just keep walking through, and you'll get to it. Although Tintoretto never did any printmaking himself, he did take inspiration from prints especially those of the mannerists, who were starting to emerge in the 1500s. And, of course, prints were made of Tintoretto's work.
Verdict: If you just can't get enough of Tintoretto, or if the history of drawing and printmaking is your interest, check out these shows.
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