Le Pont de l’Europe (or The Bridge of Europe) is by Gustave Caillebotte, who was born on August 19 of 1848 in Paris. He was known as an impressionist, though his work certainly has a realist flair to it! His passion was to portray what … Continue readingLe Pont de l’Europe by Gustave Caillebotte
George Luks was born on August 13, 1867 in a coal mining region of Pennsylvania. He knew poverty as he grew up in this setting, and his first exposure to art was from his mother, who was a musician and loved to paint. His childhood … Continue readingKnitting for the Soldiers by George Luks
Thomas Bewick was born on August 12, 1753 in England. He is known as an engraver and author of natural history. Some of his most renowned works include his illustrations of Aesop’s Fables (for example, the print above) and his book, A History of British … Continue readingThe Angler and the Little Fish by Thomas Bewick
Beatrix Potter is known especially for her beloved children’s books, particularly The Tale of Peter Rabbit. What she doesn’t get as much credit for are her illustrations, of which she created many for her books.
July 25 is the birthday of Maxfield Parrish from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Featured here is his illustration, “Cadmus Sowing the Dragon’s Teeth,” from the Greek myth. Parrish was particularly known for the vibrant colors he used in his artwork, and the hue “Parrish blue” was even named … Continue readingCadmus Sowing the Dragon’s Teeth by Maxfield Parrish
“Joan of Arc,” by Alphonse Mucha. Mucha was originally from the Austrian Empire (now the Czech Republic) and studied in Paris. He became successful with his illustrations after producing a poster for a play featuring Sarah Bernhardt, the most famous Parisian actress at the time.
Alexander Calder of Pennsylvania was born on July 22 in 1898. He is the inventor of the mobile, a type of installation art which is widely displayed in a variety of settings–from art museums to children’s bedrooms. Like many other potential artists, he did not originally … Continue readingThe Mobile by Alexander Calder
“The Ballet Class” by Edgar Degas, who was born on July 19 in 1834 in Paris. Degas had a passion for history and yearned to bring it alive in his art. However, through the years his interest shifted to the lives of people living in his … Continue readingThe Ballet Class by Edgar Degas
July 18 is the birthday of Hyacinthe Rigaud of Perpignon. This is his “Gaspard de Gueidan playing the musette” (Gaspard de Gueidan en joueur de musette, 1738) Rigaud was trained as a taylor in his father’s shop but later grew to love painting.
Rembrandt is arguably one of the greatest and most influential painters. One of his marks is the surreal light which emanates from holy characters in his art, a light which appears natural in the painting but sets the subject apart as supernatural at the same … Continue readingThe Archangel Leaving the Family of Tobias by Rembrandt