A young sculptor from Florence named Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi (1386-1466) visited Rome in the early 15th century to study classical sculpture. The things he learned would revolutionize the world of art in his home city which he decorated with multiple remarkable sculptures in the following decades. In this article, we’ll take a …
Artworks
The life of Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571) was one of multiple ups and downs, mainly because of his short temper and often violent behavior. This makes it no surprise that he started writing his autobiography at the age of 58 as he had quite a several interesting stories to tell. He was also one of the …
It’s hard to deny the fact that one of the most troubled artists of the Baroque era was also one of the most gifted ones. Caravaggio (1571-1610) was able to use chiaroscuro in such a dramatic fashion that it baffles everybody who can admire his paintings. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at …
The 16th century was the most prolific in history for Venice, a city built on 118 small islands in northeastern Italy. 3 of the greatest artists of the Renaissance and Mannerism (Late Renaissance) eras who lived and worked here and who produced numerous works that still decorate churches and palaces in the city today. One …
By the time that Antonio Canova (1757-1822) moved to Rome in 1780, he was already an established artist in the city of Venice. This major city in northeastern Italy was not too far away from his hometown of Possagno in the Venetian Republic. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the …
One of the greatest Baroque artists of his time had built such an extensive workshop during the final years of his life that he could afford to paint for his pleasure. One of these Rubens paintings depicts the place he loved the most. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts …
Tiziano Vecelli (1490-1576) was already an established master at the height of the High Renaissance (the 1490s-1527), a brief period in history in which incredible talent converged in Italy. This was an incredible period in art history when some of the most amazing Renaissance masterpieces were produced. This includes several paintings by Titian as well. …
Some of the most intriguing works of art are portraits of whom the identity of the depicted subject is unknown. Domḗnikos Theotokópoulos (1541-1614), a Mannerist artist better known by his nickname “El Greco,” painted several portraits that fit this description. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about “The Nobleman …
A new art movement emerged during the final decades of the Ancien Régime that represented the decadence of life at the French court. The paintings of the Rococo artists of the 18th century depicted the carefree attitude caused by the extreme luxury that eventually lead to the downfall of the French monarchy. François Boucher 1703-1770), …
It’s not surprising that the most famous Neoclassical painting was produced by the preeminent Neoclassical artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Jacques-Louis (1748-1825) permanently made a name for himself during a time that a revolution was brewing in France, and his most famous painting might have been a prelude to what was …