National Gallery London to Explore Poussin's Dance Obsession in New Exhibition

The National Gallery in London will present 'Poussin and the Dance' from October 9, 2021 to January 2, 2022, focusing on Nicolas Poussin's fascination with movement and dance. Organized in collaboration with the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the exhibition will feature wild and surprisingly joyful scenes with swirling and leaping figures from antiquity, showcasing Poussin's exploration of the expressive potential of the body. A highlight is the loan of 'Dance to the Music of Time' (ca. 1634-6) from the Wallace Collection, leaving its home for the first time in 121 years. Poussin, born in Les Andelys in 1594 and died in Rome in 1665, arrived in Rome in 1624 and immersed himself in the classical world, drawing inspiration from ancient sculptures and reliefs as well as works by Titian and Raphael. Many of these depict dancers, and Poussin took on the challenge of capturing dance on paper, canvas, and even clay. The exhibition is curated by Francesca Whitlum-Cooper, The Myojin-Nadar Associate Curator of Paintings 1600-1800 at the National Gallery.