This painting by the pioneering Italian Baroque artist Annibale Carracci was originally painted for a ceiling in an opulent palace, thus it is displayed high in the room to hint at how Annibale intended it to be seen.

NGVextra NGVI Director's Tour

This painting tells the story of Cleopatra's opulent party, when she dissolved the world’s largest pearl in vinegar and drank it to impress a prospective lover.

A look at the recently hung Long Portrait Gallery, focusing on the portrait of a well-to-do Dutch couple.

This elaborate Tiepolo ceiling painting uses spatial illusionism to deceive the eyes.

Here, the artist emphasises architecture rather than focusing on the people.