The first UK exhibition to explore the concept of sin in art, Sin brings together eight paintings from the National Gallery's collection dating from the 16th and 17th centuries with two special loans by contemporary artists Tracey Emin and Ron Mueck. The Gallery at The Arc is one of just four venues in the UK to host the touring exhibition and the only venue in the south of England.

Sin has been a recurrent subject for artistic exploration over the centuries. Sin is as universal as it is personal and the way that individuals and society deal with sin very much depends on the country, time and cultural context. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to observe the ever-changing representations of sin in European visual culture through the eight works dating from the 16th and 17th centuries which are rarely loaned from the National Gallery's renowned collection. These include Venus and Cupidby Lucas Cranach the Elder, while other works on display will be Rembrandt's The Woman taken in Adultery (1644) - the first Rembrandt to be displayed at The Arc - and Jan Steen's The Effects of Intemperance (about 1663-5).

Kirsty Rodda, Visual Arts Exhibitions Manager at Hampshire Cultural Trust, commented: 'We are absolutely thrilled to have been able to secure such an important exhibition from the National Gallery for display at The Arc. Sin is touring to just four locations in the UK: Winchester is the only location south of York where visitors will have the opportunity to view these exceptional works together. It is rare to be able to see a Rembrandt outside major galleries: to host an exhibition that includes not just Rembrandt, but Ron Mueck and Tracey Emin, too, is an incredible privilege.'

Some works in the exhibition shed light on the power of confession, either to free oneself from the burden of sin or to obtain forgiveness.  The Mass of Saint Giles, about 1500 (National Gallery, London) shows the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne kneeling in front of Saint Giles, whose prayers of intercession to God led to the absolution of the emperor from his sins. Tracey Emin's neon work It was just a kiss, 2010 (Exhibition Copy, Courtesy of the Artist and White Cube) could be considered an open-ended and ambiguous secular confession. These are joined by a further, highly significant and impressive sculpture, Youth, by Australian artist, Ron Mueck.

Sin is curated by Dr Joost Joustra, Ahmanson Research Associate Curator in Art and Religion at the National Gallery, London: 'Sin invites visitors to reflect on a fundamental concept that pervades our lives and history, but also to marvel at the ingenious ways artists have addressed the subject across time.'

Sin opens on Friday 24 February and runs at The Arc until Sunday 14 May. The exhibition will be accompanied by a lively, sin-themed programme of events, talks and workshops at The Arc, including a curator's talk with Joost Joustra, a chocolatier masterclass and a sin-inspired cocktail making evening with The Alchemist. The exhibition will also be accompanied by two City Space exhibitions by local artist Katherine Anteney and Winchester Photographic Society.

Tickets for Sin and its accompanying programme can be booked online at https://www.arcwinchester.org.uk/event/sin or in person at The Arc.