Antonius Mor's Portrait of a Lady c1555 demonstrating our classic photographic portrait lighting still used today with the nasal shadow approaching the far corner of her lip.

Similar lighting used here by Peter Paul Rubens in 1622, this time with the addition of catchlights on the eyes - an almost essential feature of modern photographic portraiture.

This time "butterfly glamour" style lighting again with catchlights in her eyes by Drouais in 1763.

and now for some humour from Teniers II in his painting in 1640 of skittles - not much has changed - wives still nag their husbands while the boys still have a pee against the fence. This is only half of the painting.

and now for some marine drama by Clarkson Stanfield in 1830 Mount St Michael, Cornwall

Jules Lefebvre's La Cigale (The grasshopper) 1872. His other famous nude Chloe resides in nearby Young and Jackson's pub. This one depicts the misery and uncertainty of a girl who has failed to plan for her future and has only lived for the present rather than working hard like an ant to save for when times are tougher. Theme was taken from La Fontaine's tale The ant and the grasshopper.

Edwin Long's Queen Esther 1878

Sousa-Pinto's Dans Les Champs 1882

Tattegrain's The Convalescent 1884

St George Hare's The victory of faith 1890

Unfortunately, half the galleries were closed the day I visited while all the fantastic Australian Impressionist works were in a feature presentation elsewhere.

Gives me a good excuse to go back there again soon.