National Gallery to Host Major Piero della Francesca Exhibition in 2027

The National Gallery in London is preparing to open what it describes as the largest ever exhibition of works by Piero della Francesca, a prominent Italian Renaissance painter. The exhibition is scheduled to run from 2 October 2027 to 30 January 2028, offering visitors a chance to view important paintings and rare loans from institutions around the world.

Among the notable works to be displayed is The Urbino Diptych, which features portraits of Federico da Montefeltro and Battista Sforza. This piece will be loaned from the Gallerie degli Uffizi in Florence, marking a significant international collaboration for the exhibition.

The Perugia Altarpiece, also known as the Pala di Perugia (1468), will be included in its entirety. This work is being lent by the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria in Perugia, further expanding the range of masterpieces on view.

Another highlight is the Virgin and Child Enthroned with Four Angels, dating from around 1460–70. This painting will travel from the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, adding to the exhibition’s international scope.

The National Gallery’s own collection will provide three central works for the show: Baptism of Christ (probably about 1437–45), Saint Michael (1469), and The Nativity (early 1480s). These pieces will serve as focal points within the exhibition.

A digital version of The Legend of the True Cross, the fresco cycle from the Bacci Chapel in the Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo, will also be featured. This digital presentation will allow visitors to experience a celebrated aspect of Piero’s oeuvre that cannot be transported.

The exhibition is structured around key elements of Piero’s art, as described by the gallery: colour, design, space, perspective, narrative, and light. The show is co-curated by Laura Llewellyn, curator of Italian paintings before 1500 at the National Gallery, and Machtelt Brüggen Israëls of the Rijksmuseum and the University of Amsterdam. Sponsors include Intesa Sanpaolo bank and philanthropist John J. Studzinski.