A panel consisting of art critic Martin Gayford, artist Jonathan Yeo and creative director at the Royal Opera House Deborah Bull oversaw the selection of the shortlist of ten paintings. The top ten shortlisted paintings span over five centuries of European art (from 1434 to 1971) and include works by British, Italian, Dutch, Belgian and French artists. The paintings can be seen in galleries.

The nominees include The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck, The Baptism of Christ - by Piero della Francesca and A Rake's Progress by William Hogarth. The British public can vote for their favourite from the shortlist of the top ten paintings. Voting is through www.bbc.co.uk/today.

On 5 September 2005 at the National Gallery. Today presenter, James Naughtie, will announce on Radio 4 the result of The Greatest Painting in Britain initiative as chosen by the British public.