The trend of fewer temporary exhibitions in our museums is becoming established, as the cost of mounting blockbusters escalates beyond even the generous reach of sponsorship. This is in sharp contrast to the commercial galleries, which still put on as many as 10 or 15 different shows a year in the hope of tempting clients to part with their cash. Taking a keen look at forthcoming exhibitions is always a mixed pleasure: the expected counterpointed with the novel, the obvious with the obscure. Thankfully, there are still enough exciting prospects in the public sector to raise the spirits and move us to make a note in the diary.
At the National Gallery the year begins well with Jan Gossaert’s Renaissance (23 February to 30 May), a salute to this little-known Flemish master organised by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where the show was first displayed. Our National Gallery has a large and distinguished collection of Gossaerts and it will be good to see them thoroughly re-examined and put in context.
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