Italian polymath and ultimate master of the Renaissance period Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) didn’t leave behind a whole lot of amazing artworks for us to admire, but the ones he did clearly show the incredible talent of the man. One of these depicts a man holding a note which makes us assume he was a …
Artworks
One of the greatest Dutch artists in history lived during the most remarkable period in Dutch history, the Dutch Golden Age. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) can easily be described as one of the greatest masters of the Baroque era in history. Although his paintings are what makes him such a famous Dutch artist, he …
If there was ever an artwork created that defines an entire art movement, then this painting by Fragonard fits this description. The exuberant and libertine taste of the French court of the 18th century was the driving motivation behind it. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about The Swing …
One of the most intriguing sculptures by Donatello (1386-1466) was one of the 14 works of art commissioned to decorate the exterior of a church in the heart of the Italian city of Florence. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about the statue of Saint George, a masterpiece by …
If your patron is the Grand Duke of Tuscany and his predecessor had a monumental Renaissance statue dedicated to them, then you better make sure your work can at least hold a candle to the existing statues. That’s exactly what Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571) must have thought when he earned a prestigious commission in the 1540s. …
One of the most prolific Rococo artists of the 18th century created many paintings that define this particular art movement. Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) is best known for his ornamental works of art that were commissioned by the pleasure-loving court of Louis XV. He wasn’t born to paint this particular type of painting, though. after all, …
When Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) arrived in Rome in the early 1590s, he literally had nothing. That’s because his aggressive nature resulted in a serious crime (of which the exact details remain unknown) which forced him to flee the city of Milan in northern Italy. The incredible talent of the artist of the Baroque …
One of the most intriguing sculptures ever created can be found decorating a stairwell in a famous mansion in London. This isn’t just because of its immense beauty, but because of the notorious man that it depicts. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker, …
The Early Renaissance gradually evolved in the late 15th and early 16th centuries to a period known as the “High Renaissance.” This was a period when some of the most famous Renaissance artists in history created remarkable paintings and other works of art alongside each other. Just like with most other forms of art, the …
When Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) approached the final decade of his life, he had the luxury to create works of art that he would never sell. That’s because he had dozens of people working in his workshop to complete the sketches he made for his clients. Yes, fine art was produced on a massive scale …