The trinity and mystic pietà

Although many of the works I've selected are contemporary, I feel drawn to highlight fine paintings throughout the course of history.

For me, Balding is an exemplar of classical painting. His works were widely regarded at the time as a means to tempt people towards sin and the devil. This was often shown with dark images of the devil and non-idealised depictions of Jesus.

I often enjoy works which subvert the status quo and this is no different. Whilst the beautifully contoured folds of the drapery are enjoyable to look at, when I saw this in the National Gallery in London it was the intensity of the hues that first drew me to the scene.

I would argue that this painting sits among the most pivotal works of art of this period, not only for Baldung Grien's career but for the development of the wider Renaissance in central Europe as a whole.