Enjoy an uncrowded private view and curator’s introduction to this major exhibition, which features 100 exquisite drawings by such masters as Leonardo da Vinci and Verrocchio. Drawn from the two foremost collections in the field – the Uffizi and the British Museum – the display charts the increasing importance of drawing for Italian artists in the 15th century.

During this period, there was a fundamental shift in artistic thinking about the use of preparatory drawings.What had previously been a means of organising elements of design became a method of visual exploration, as artists strove to perfect more naturalistic forms and perspective.

The technology used in current conservation and research has given new insights into the working methods of many Renaissance painters. Experimental drawings are often discovered beneath painted surfaces, revealing an artistic freedom not always reflected in finished works.

Nearest Tube: Russell Square, Holborn, Tottenham Court Road