The Roman goddess of Venus covered multiple fields, including love, beauty, desire, sex, fertility, prosperity, and victory. With so many important functions, it’s not hard to understand that she was one of the most popular goddesses in the ancient world. This wasn’t the only reason why Romans were so fond of her. In Roman mythology, …
Artworks
Roman mythology has been an important source for artists for many centuries. The Renaissance marked a rebirth of interest in classical mythology. It’s not surprising that one of the most famous Renaissance paintings in history depicts a Roman goddess. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about The Birth of …
One of the most famous paintings of Jackson Pollock, the leading Abstract Expressionist artist of the 20th century, actually has a title. This statement might seem a bit peculiar, but Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) had a good reason not to give his art titles that might hint at what is depicted. Let’s take a closer look …
When Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) started working on painting in honor of a famous German Composer, he didn’t know that it would become one of his most famous works. He only used light materials as it was intended to serve as a decorative painting for a temporary exhibition in Vienna. Today, it’s preserved very meticulously because …
When Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) met a 17-year-old girl in Paris in 1927, it inspired the Spanish artist to produce a series of peculiar paintings of her. He completed this fascinating painting in Picasso’s distinctive style full of colors and symbolism a few years after he met her. Let’s take a closer look at some of …
There’s something special about a particular Matisse painting, and it’s not just the fact that it overflows with bright red colors. What initially started as a simple depiction of the studio of Henri Matisse (1869-1954), one of the most influential artists of the early 20th century, transformed into one of the most important paintings of …
Although the career of Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) abruptly ended when he was still in his thirties, he left a permanent mark on the world of art. He invented an entirely new genre called “Fêtes Galantes,” depictions of people having a good time in extremely theatrical parkland surroundings. The idyllic settings of his paintings became the …
The painting that won Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) the first prize at the Grand Prix of Rome in 1752 was a far cry from the Rococo paintings that made him famous. Many of his most famous paintings reflect the free attitude of the people at the French court during the final decades of the Ancient Régime. …
When two of the most renowned Flemish artists in history collaborated in the early 17th century, they produced one of the most stunning series of paintings ever produced. Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568-1625) and Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) were close friends and they worked together on several amazing paintings of the Baroque era. Each artist …
When Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi (1386-1466), better known by his nickname “Donatello,” visited Rome in the early 15th century, he was able to study classical sculptures. The Renaissance sculptor used his knowledge to produce amazing sculptures that incorporated the ideals of Humanism and Naturalism. These were elements that weren’t present in the idealized …