The National Gallery has announced a unique exhibition featuring two enormous Renaissance cartoons by the Carracci brothers, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the artistic processes of the late 16th century. “The Carracci Cartoons: Myths in the Making” will run from April 10 to July 6, 2025, in Room 1 of the gallery.
These remarkable works, each measuring nearly four meters wide and two meters tall, were created around 1599 as preparatory drawings for frescoes in Rome’s Palazzo Farnese. Due to their delicate nature and impressive size, the charcoal and white chalk drawings are rarely displayed.
The cartoons were commissioned by Cardinal Odoardo Farnese for his palace’s gallery ceiling and depict scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. They reveal fascinating insights into Renaissance workshop practices, showing evidence of their use through small perforations and cuts used to transfer the designs onto fresh plaster.
“The Carracci cartoons are thrilling displays of creativity and imagination,” says Dr Christine Siedel, Associate Curator of Renaissance Painting. “We are delighted to present a fascinating glimpse into the creation of one of the most ambitious fresco decorations produced in Rome at the dawn of the Baroque.”
Created primarily by Agostino Carracci, with possible contributions from his brother Annibale, the cartoons represent a significant moment in art history. The Carracci brothers, along with their cousin Lodovico, ran an influential workshop in Bologna that trained many notable Baroque artists including Guido Reni and Domenichino.
The cartoons’ survival is remarkable, speaking to their historical significance. They entered the National Gallery’s collection in 1837 as part of a gift from Lord Francis Egerton, having previously belonged to artist Sir Thomas Lawrence.
This free exhibition coincides with the gallery’s C C Land: The Wonder of Art re-hang and runs alongside other exhibitions including “Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300-1350” and “José María Velasco A View of Mexico.”