Each month every pupil will be exposed to a work of art that can be visited in London. The aim of this is to be able to recognise some well known and some lesser known paintings or art works, know some facts about the piece, the artist and the time in history it may have been created.

The Cholmondley Ladies

The painting is of two young women sitting up in bed, fully dressed, each holding an infant.

They are traditionally said to be sisters, although the different coloured eyes of the ladies and children show that they are not identical twins.

The babies are swaddled in red christening robes.

The painting was known to be in the collection of Thomas Cholmondeley (pronounced 'Chumley')

The style of the painting would seem to date it to c.1600-10

Family group portraits of this type were popular in the Elizabethan and early Stuart periods.

You can visit this painting at The Tate Britain in London.

The Arnolfini Portrait 1434

This is thought to be a portrait of a very wealthy Italian merchant and his wife.

There are some clues in the picture that show them to have been important people and very rich

• the bed - most people did not own one - if you did it was on display in the living room - this one is carved and covered with throws. 
• the couple wear fur (even though it looks like warm weather outside (see the cherry blossom) and bright coloured clothes
• there are oranges on the window ledge - these were very very expensive

Find out more

What do you think the painting shows?

Jan Van Eyck was the painter - can you find out more about him?