Martin Gayford’s five favourite exhibitions of 2014

1. Late Rembrandt, National Gallery (15 Oct – Jan 18) (see image above)

Some achievements, and some exhibitions, are virtually beyond criticism, and this is one: a superb assortment of works by a supreme artist.

2. Anselm Kiefer, Royal Academy (Sept 27 – December 14)

A revelation – to the British public at least – that Kiefer is a great living artist, and above all a painter.

3. Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs, Tate Modern (17 April – September 7)

In his old age Matisse was an invalid, confined to a wheel chair, but succeeded in escaping triumphantly into a world of exuberant light and form: this exhibition was a triumph too.

4. Pontormo & Rosso: Diverging Paths of Mannerism, Palazzo Strozzi, Florence (March 8 – July 20)

A superb twin survey of two the most intriguingly eccentric painters of 16^th century Florence, one left feeling Rosso was a fascinating odd-ball, but Pontormo was a truly great painter.

5. Veronese: Magnificence in Renaissance Venice, National Gallery (March 19 – June 15)

There is something deliciously indulgent about Veronese.