When Jacopo Robusti (1518-1594) aspired to become one of the leading Venetian artists of the 16th century, he had to use some remarkable marketing tactics to make his way. Not only did “Tintoretto” paint at a speed that was unseen before, but he also offered to paint for free or at very low cost during …
Artworks
One of the greatest Dutch artists in history focused on a specific type of genre painting and mastered it in the 17th century. Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a period when the Dutch Republic was one of the leading nations in the world in many fields. The paintings in Vermeer’s oeuvre …
It’s hard to believe that this incredible painting by one of the most famous Early Netherlandish painters in history is not larger than a sheet of paper. Jan van Eyck (1390-1441) was one of the first artists of the Renaissance who mastered using oil. This allowed him to work slowly and add an incredible amount …
The paintings of this Master of the Renaissance were forgotten for centuries until an artistic group revived his oeuvre in England. Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) was an Italian artist from Florence who spent most of his life in his home city (although he produced some famous works in Rome as well). His style can be described …
Little is known about the true identity of the depicted woman in a portrait believed to be by one of the greatest Renaissance artists in history. There is, however, an inscription within the composition of the work that might hint at who this woman really is. Let’s take a closer look at some of the …
When this French artist was experimenting to find his artistic identity, he changed the course of art history indefinitely. Henri Matisse (1869-1954) was one of the leading figures of the Fauves, a group of Avant-Garde artists who were active for a few years in the first decade of the 20th century. The impact their revolutionary …
The portrait of a man standing in front of a swirling color wheel that consists of small dots. This is a short description of this masterpiece of Pointillism. The full title of this work is quite self-explanatory: “Opus 217. Against the Enamel of a Background Rhythmic with Beats and Angles, Tones, and Tints, Portrait of …
You can’t admire this painting in a famous museum, but it’s hard to deny its significance in art history. It was completed by a famous Russian artist who co-founded a significant almanac several years later. Unfortunately, the group was dispersed with the outbreak of World War I. Let’s take a closer look at some of …
When this French artist saw an exhibit of the paintings of one of the greatest artists of his time, he decided to ditch his architectural studies to pursue a career as a painter. Paul Signac (1863-1935) was 18 years old and was so impressed by Claude Monet’s paintings at an exhibit that he completely changed …
One of the greatest sculptural achievements of the late Middle Ages can be found in a city that was once the Burgundian capital in modern-day France. The Well of Moses is an incredible Gothic artwork that is unique in many ways. It’s incomplete today but it provides great insight into how the transition between the …