Brueghel

BIRMINGHAM,. UK.-The Barber Institute of Fine Arts presents Italy versus the Netherlands, on view through August 26, 2007. The fundamental differences between northern and southern European art are at the centre of this display, which is planned to coincide with this year’s Family Open Day. Focusing upon the two greatest — and most diametrically opposed — traditions of painting between the 15th and 17th centuries, it features work by Cosimo Rosselli, Pieter Brueghel the Younger, Rembrandt and Guardi, including paintings, drawings and prints rarely seen in the main galleries. It also examines the interaction between the two traditions in the works of the Netherlandish artists who visited Italy. Classicism versus naturalism, the macrocosm versus the microcosm — these issues lie at the heart of this display, which is accompanied by an explanatory bay leaflet and a series of public lectures. (courtesy www.Artdaily.org)