Great Artists !

On this page I hope to be able to share a little about each painter. There seems to be 20 great artists from Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) to Georges Seurat (1859-1891)
 

RENAISSANCE PAINTERS

Sandro Botticelli- (1445-1510), spent most of his life in his native Florence, his work fell out of favour to such an extent that he was almost forgotten for centuries, it was only in the late 19th century that he was recognised as one of the great artists, he painted the  Sistine Chapel, as well as The Adoration of the Magi and The Madonna of the Book.

 Leonardo Da Vinci - (1452-1519), was born near Florence, he was a perfectionist that meant he only had a few works ever completed, he painted St Jerome.  One thing interesting to note is that in his works one finger usually pointed upwards.

 Michael-aglvs Bonarro - Michelangelo (1475-1564), he was a proud citizen of Florence, he painted the Sistine Ceiling frescoes, he was known to be a very sensitive and solitary man, he was also known for sculpting and did among many The Duomo Pieta and The Lacoon.

Raphael Vr Binas-Raphael (1482-1520), he seemed to be the living embodiment of the Renaissance period, but was not as innovative as Leonardo, his great works were La Foranaria and Madonna of the Chair, he is usually remembered as a painter of Madonna's.

Titianvs P-Titian (1485-1576), Titan was purely a painter, he trained in the studio of Giovanni Bellini, he left many works and died in his 90's, he painted moving religious works, mythologies, he painted Pope Paul III and The Andrians.
 
 




FLEMISH ARTISTS

Pieto Pauolo Rubens-Rubens(1577-1640), he was a brillant manager as well as a brillant artist, he ran a thriving workshop that poured out unending work, he was cultivated, and a superb linguist, he was knighted by Charles I of England, his paintings include Winter Love and The Prodigal Son.

Frans Hals (1582-1666), he grew up in Haarlem, where there is now a Museum with his work in it, his style was formed largely in isolation and virtually self taught, although he was successful he lived most of his life in poverty. Among his works are The Meagre Company, The Merry Drinker.

Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641), he was largely a self-taught artist, he made his name painting portraits of the Genoese aristocracy, when he returned back to Antwerp, he was appointed court painter to the Archduchess Isabella, his works include A Noble Patron and The Fiery Mistress.

Rembrandt (1606-1669), was a son of a miller from Leiden, he made his name after a portrait, he was a most popular painter in his late 20's. It was not till the 19th century that he was recognised as one of the supreme artists, his works include The Polish Rider and Portrait of Titus.

I Ver-Meer- Vermeer (1632-1675), from Delft, he seems to have worked as an art dealer and run a tavern to feed his 11 children, his painting seems to have been a part time hobby, there are only 35 authenticated works of his, these works include Lady reading a Letter at an Open Window and also The Procuress.
 
 







ROMANTIC ARTISTS

Francisco de Goya (1746-1828), he went to Madrid at 18, he was slowly making his name and became a royal painter at the age of 43, he earned his reputation painting cartoons for tapestries, he became deaf from a serious illness and from then on his paintings were from his imaginings, and satires on high society, his works include The Bullfight and the Naked Maja.

William Blake (1757-1827), he was an English painter, he started his career as an engraver, during his lifetime only a few people appreciated his works so spent most of his time in poverty, which did not bother him as he was dedicated to his work and lived in the world of imagination and spirit, rather than of flesh, his works included The Good and Evil Angels and The French Revolution.

Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840), he spent most of his life in Dresden, he enjoyed moderate success as an artist, getting the patronage of the Prussian and the Russian Royal families, his life was devoted to landscape painting, he had a stroke in 1835 forcing him to abandon oil painting, he was known for Woman at the Window and also Morning in Riesenbeirge.

J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851), he was brought up in London and was fascinated by the Thames, he worked extremely quickly also the brilliance and originality of his painting is unrivalled, he was reknown for his unkempt dress and meanness with money, when he died he left a legacy of over 20,000 works, he was known for Peace: Burial at Sea and Tintern Abbey.

John Constable (1776-1837), he was brought up in the country, which is where he got his deep love for the English landscape, he was 39 before he sold his first landscape, during his lifetime landscape painting was unfashionable and although his paintings were acclaimed in France, the Royal Academy in London refused him full membership until 1829, only 8 years before his death, his works included The Stour Valley and Dedham Church and also The Leaping Horse.
 
 






IMPRESSIONISTS PAINTERS

Edouard Manet (1832-1883), He was one of the most original and influential painters of the 19th century, his bold brush work brought new life to French painting, the critics subjected Manet to abuse, condemning his work as incompetent and obscene, he came from a wealthy family so had no need to earn a living by painting, he longed for recognition but was denied it until late in life, his works include Argenteuil and Olympia.

Edgar Degas (1834-1917), he abandoned his law studies at the age of 18 to take up his career as an artist, he drew his inspiration from the lively scenes of Paris, he was a shy man with a fetish for privacy and is best known for evocative pictures of the ballet dancers at the Paris opera, he devoted his life to art, his works include The Rehearsal and The Tub.

Claude Monet (1840-1926), he was brought up on the Normandy coast, the scenery inspired him to devote his life to landscape painting, he was known to have painted out of doors in all weathers and he was first misunderstood and mocked, enduring poverty in his early career, he was in his 40s before his work began to sell, his works include A Floating Studio and also the Rouen Cathedral.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), he trained as a porcelain painter in a small Paris factory, he made the transition at the age of 19, his style changed many times, always remaining joyful, he made his name as a society portrait painter when he was nearly 40, he spent his final years painting everyday after he became crippled by rheumatism, his works include Girl Reading and also Le Moulin de la Galette.

Georges Seurat (1859-1891), he is best known for his technique of painting in tiny dots of colour, 'pointillism', he was intensely secret, guarding his latest discoveries from even his closest friends, he was extremely shy by nature, instead of recording fleeting impressions he imposed a sense of stillness and order, he tragically died young probably from meningitis at the age of 31, his works include Woman powdering Herself and The Models.
 
 




.    .