Cézanne in Britain
Even 50 years ago, the lack of significant Cézannes in British public collections was striking. When the National Gallery bought one of the artist’s Bathers canvases for £950,000 in 1964, widespread protests ensued. But, as this exhibition marking the centenary of Cézanne’s death reveals, private collectors such as Samuel Courtauld were ahead of the herd.
National Gallery, WC2, until Jan 7
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David Smith
Big, abstract sculptures made of welded metal, some rescued from piles of junk, in a visually arresting exhibition staged to mark the centenary of their maker’s birth. He’s the American David Smith (1906-65), and his work is always extremely masculine and physical.
Tate Modern, SE1, until Jan 21
William Powell Frith
Frith was the Victorian painter of Derby Day, The Railway Station and other pictures bursting with life, incident and detail, and this is a rare chance to see about 60 of his paintings together.
Guildhall Art Gallery, EC2, until Mar 4
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Velazquez
This is a thrilling account of the dizzyingly successful career of one of the greatest and most influential painters of all time. There is no Las Meninas, unfortunately, and a few of the other key works are missing, but the early, dramatically lit compositions are especially effective.
National Gallery, WC2, until Jan 21
Holbein in England
One of the exhibitions of the year — even if it lacks The Ambassadors, which is at the National Gallery. The definitive Henry VIII is here, from Madrid, as are the breathtaking likenesses of many courtiers and German businessmen based in London. Nobody has bettered Holbein at capturing physical appearance and character, but there was even more to him than that, as this extraordinary show demonstrates.
Tate Britain, SW1, until Jan 7
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Luigi Russolo
The Italian futurist (1885-1947) is best known for his decidedly avant-garde music, but he was equally unconventional as a painter, especially when searching for equivalents between the aural and the visual. This is the first retrospective devoted to his fascinating work.
Estorick Collection, N1, until Dec 17