Port-en-Bessin, Entrance to the Harbor, 1888 (click to enlarge) George -Pierre Seurat oil on canvas The Museum of Modern Art New York City George Seurat spent the summer of 1886 in the resort town of Honfleur, on the northern French coast, a region of turbulent seas and rugged shorelines to which artists had long been attracted. But Seurat’s evening scene is hushed and still. Vast sky and tranquil sea bring a sense of spacious light to the picture, yet also have a peculiar visual density. … Continue reading →

Young Woman Drawing, 1801 Marie-Denise Villers (French, 1774–1821) Oil on canvas; 63 1/2 x 50 5/8 in. (161.3 x 128.6 cm) At one time ascribed to Jacques-Louis David, this alluring portrait has now been recognized as the work of Marie-Denise Villers. Although little known today, Villers was a gifted pupil of Girodet and exhibited in the Salons, where her portraits attracted attention. (A salon is a hall or gallery for the exhibition of works of art). This work, which may be a self-portrait, was exhibited … Continue reading →

Edgar Degas, 1834-1917, was born in Paris as the son of a wealthy banker. He studied art at the famous Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. After having finished his studies he went to Italy where he stayed for five years studying and copying meticulously the old masters of the Renaissance. His decision to study the old masters was typical for his personality – that of a perfectionist. Back in France in 1859, Degas exhibited his works for the first five years at the official Salon … Continue reading →

Flaming June, 1895 Frederick Leighton (1830-1896) Oil on canvas Frederic Leighton (1830-1896) was an English painter and sculptor. His works depicted historical, biblical, and classical subject matter. He lived in Paris from 1855 to 1859, where he met Ingres, Delacroix, Corot, Millet, and Picasso. In 1860, he moved to London, England, where he associated with the Pre-Raphaelites. He designed Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s tomb for Robert Browning in 1861. Leighton was knighted at Windsor in 1878, and was a baronet eight years later. After his death … Continue reading →

The Lute Player by Conrad Kiesel Oil on canvas Originally trained as an architect, Conrad Kiesel (German, 1846-1921), then went on to be a sculptor in Germany. Following a visit to Holland, Kiesel returned to Berlin to study painting and then moved home to Duesseldorf. Under the tutelage of Wilhelm Sohn, Kiesel acquired his exquisite sense and technique for depicting fabrics and colors. In 1885 he settled in Berlin as a portraitist and genre painter while at the same time maintaining his reputation as a … Continue reading →