Devotion by design

Drawing on the National Gallery's collection of Italian altarpieces, this exhibition explores the function, the original location, and the development of altarpieces in Italy during the late Middle Ages and the early Renaissance.

As well as investigating the development of altarpieces before 1500, the display also at changes in form, style and type, and their relationships the frames and architecture that often surrounded them.

Among the objects on display are pieces by Piero della Francesca and Fra Angelico.

Devotion by Design: Italian Altarpieces before 1500 is on display at the National Gallery, London until 2 October 2011. Entrance to the gallery and the exhibition is free. To find out more, visit the National Gallery website.

Take a look at some of our other galleries, including the launch of Titanic and pioneers of polar exploration at www.historyextra.com/feature/galleries