Realism in art wasn’t a novelty in the 19th century. Apart from some exceptions, it was only around the 1850s that Realism artists started depicting ordinary people. A similar art movement in the United States in the late 19th century and American Realism was the most important type of art in the visual arts in …
One of the most talented Spanish artists in history spent the vast majority of his career working at the Spanish court in Madrid. In this function, Diego Velázquez (1599-1660) painted dozens of portraits of members of the royal family, including multiple children. One particular girl who was known as “Infanta Maria Teresa” appears in several …
It was only in the second half of the 19th century that the first artists who painted modern life emerged. The Impressionist artists revolutionized the history of art by painting common subjects derived from real life in the modern world. They often sought inspiration close to them and as they often met in cafes and …
The identity of the sitter in this wonderful portrait by one of the most renowned Dutch Golden Age painters in history remains uncertain. There is a general theory, though, about who this man could be, and in my opinion, it’s the correct one as well. Frans Hals (1582-1666) was one of the most notable portraitists …
Many artists in the 19th century developed new painting techniques, most notably the Impressionist artists who used visible brushstrokes while painting outdoors. Very few dared to paint modern life as it was, so this French artist caused quite a stir when he started painting Parisian taverns and bars. Many paintings by Manet show modern life …
This Dutch Golden Age painter was born in a major port city in modern-day Belgium, but he lived and worked almost his entire life in the Dutch city of Haarlem. Frans Hals (1582-1666) was the son of a cloth merchant from Antwerp who had to flee with his family to the north during a year-long …
Very few painters in history spent more time in the presence of Napoleon Bonaparte, the military leader who became Emperor of the French in the early 19th century than this French artist. Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) was a fervent supporter of the French Revolution and his talent brought him to the highest levels of French society. …
The most devastating military conflicts in history, usually fought on a large battlefield, have shaped the world we live in today. These epic events have served as a source of inspiration for artists for centuries and as you surely expected, many of the most famous battle paintings are huge. Another common factor in these monumental …
When a famous English artist was in his early twenties, he visited a ruined castle that majestically overlooks a river on the border of England and Scotland. He produced his first work of the castle in England the following year and he would be inspired by it several more times throughout his career. Joseph Mallord …
The French are still divided about this dubious figure, and that’s because he was one of the most controversial politicians in French history. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) rose out of the ashes of the French Revolution and became highly popular following numerous successes during the Revolutionary Wars. He became the First Consul of the Republic between …