Sunday, February 28, 2010

Still-Life with Flowers and Fruit

(click to enlarge)
Jan Davidsz de Heem
(Dutch, 1606-1684)
Still-Life with Flowers and Fruit, 1650
Oil on canvas

The Dutch were masters of light and texture.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

The Flower Market, Copenhagen

(click to enlarge)
Paul Gustave Fischer
(Danish, 1860-1934)
The Flower Market, Copenhagen, ????
Oil on canvas

Friday, February 26, 2010

Hope

(click to enlarge)
Edward Burne-Jones
(British, 1833-1898)
Hope, 1896
Oil on canvas

So gorgeous! I wish I could find a higher quality photo. Make sure to notice the chain! Also, look at how elegantly her hands and feet are painted, and how gracefully her dress billows around her.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Miss Margaret Henderson

 (click to enlarge)
John William Waterhouse
(English, 1849-1917)
Miss Margaret Henderson, 1900
Oil on canvas

One of my favorite of Waterhouse's portraits, though I can't find a very high quality photo of it.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Girl With a Red Hat

(click to enlarge)
Johannes Vermeer
(Dutch, 1632-1675)
Girl With a Red Hat, 1665-67
Oil on canvas

Another Vermeer that I love everything about.  The colors, the pose, the expression, the light, the background. Notice the tapestry behind her and the lions on the chair. Everything is so gorgeous! And she seems to be the same model from Girl With a Pearl Earring, especially since the paintings were painted at the same time. 

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Girl With a Pearl Earring

(click to enlarge)
Johannes Vermeer
(Dutch, 1632-1675)
Girl With a Pearl Earring, 1665-67
Oil on canvas

I love this painting. Doesn't everyone? The light is painted so perfectly, especially those dots of pure white on the earring and her eyes. And I love the pose, it's unusual but not unnatural at all!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Boreas

 (click to enlarge)
John William Waterhouse
(English, 1849-1917)
Boreas, 1902
Oil on canvas

Named after the north wind in Greek mythology.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

The Emigrant's Last Sight of Home

(click to enlarge)
Richard Redgrave
(English, 1804-1989)
The Emigrant's Last Sight of Home, ????
Oil on canvas

Wow. You have to love the colors in this painting. Bright, but not unnatural. 

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Holy Cecilia with Lyre

(click to enlarge)
Antoon van Wely
(Dutch, 1866-1956)
Holy Cecilia with Lyre, ????
Oil on canvas

I can find barely any info on this artist, but what I've seen of his paintings have been gorgeous. This is my favorite. Everything about it is beautiful. It's so simple, but I can look at it forever and not get tired of it! I love the colors and her hands especially.

Friday, February 19, 2010

The Symbol

(click to enlarge)
Sir Frank Dicksee
(English, 1853-1928)
The Symbol, 1881
Oil on canvas

The full title is continued "Is it Nothing to You, All Ye That Pass By?" That, and taking a closer look, make the painting's story plain.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

The Merciful Knight

(click to enlarge)
Edward Burne-Jones
(British, 1833-1898)
The Merciful Knight, 1863
Watercolor and bodycolor

The painting's story is an 11th century legend, which Burne-Jones summed up on the painting's frame: 
Of a knight who forgave his enemy when he might have destroyed him and how the image of Christ kissed him in token that his acts had pleased God
You can see the painting in it's frame here.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

He Suffered

(click to enlarge)
Arild Rosenkrantz
(Danish, 1870-1964)
He Suffered, 1928
Oil on canvas [?]

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The Soul of the Rose

 (click to enlarge)
John William Waterhouse
(English, 1849-1917)
The Soul of the Rose (or My Sweet Rose), 1905
Oil on canvas

This is one of my absolute favorite paintings. It's so dreamy and wistful and just plain beautiful. I know you've probably seen it before, but take a closer look. Look at how perfectly her hands are painted, the little glimpse of the flowerpot on the right, the little pearls in her hair, and the enraptured look on her face.  Stop and smell the roses. :)

Monday, February 15, 2010

In Love

(click to enlarge)
Marcus Stone
(English, 1840-1921)
In Love, ????
Oil on canvas

I can't tell for sure, but I bet that's a statue of Cupid in the background.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

The End of the Quest

(click to enlarge)
Sir Frank Dicksee
(English, 1853-1928)
The End of the Quest, 1921
Oil on canvas

I won't say anything about the story, I'll leave everyone to their own romantic musings. ;) But, I will point out that the marble is really beautifully and skillfully rendered. 

Saturday, February 13, 2010

The Painter's Honeymoon

(click to enlarge)
Lord Frederick Leighton
(English, 1830-1896)
The Painter's Honeymoon, 1864
Oil on canvas

Okay, all together now: "Awwwwwww!"
Adorable. Love the sunshine and the dress. :)

Friday, February 12, 2010

The Wedding

St. Valentine's day is coming up! Get ready for cute paintings! ;)

(click to enlarge)
Luke Fildes
(English, 1843-1927)
The Wedding, ????
Oil on canvas

I love the happy bustle of this scene! :)

Thursday, February 11, 2010

The Lady Clare

 (click to enlarge)
John William Waterhouse
(English, 1849-1917)
The Lady Clare, 1900
Oil on canvas

I love the pinks and browns in this painting. And that sweet pink rose in her hair! She's from Tennyson's poem The Lady Clare. Here's the part the painting depicts:
She clad herself in a russet gown,
She was no longer Lady Clare:
She went by dale, and she went by down,
With a single rose in her hair.

The lily-white doe Lord Ronald had brought
Leapt up from where she lay,
Dropt her head in the maiden's hand,
And follow'd her all the way.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Sleeping Beauty

(click to enlarge)
Maxfield Parrish
(American, 1870-1966)
Sleeping Beauty, 1812
Oil on canvas

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

An Old Mill Near Haweswater

(click to enlarge)
William James Blacklock
(English, 1815-1858)
An Old Mill Near Haweswater, 1854
Oil on canvas

I love forests and picturesque crumbling buildings! :)

Monday, February 8, 2010

Portrait of Milada Cerny

(click to enlarge)
Alphonse Mucha
(Czechoslovakian, 1860-1939)
Portrait of Milada Cerny, 1906
Oil on canvas

I love Alphonse Mucha. He's most well known for his posters, but his paintings are really beautiful too. His perfect colors, intricate decorations, and beautiful faces remain the same. :)

Sunday, February 7, 2010

The Little Street

(click to enlarge)
Johannes Vermeer
(Dutch, 1632-1675)
The Little Street, 1658-60
Oil on canvas

Enlarge and check out the details!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

A Peacock and Doves In a Garden

(click to enlarge)
Eugene Bidau
(French, ????-1895)
A Peacock and Doves In a Garden, 1888
Oil on canvas

Pretty! Some might find it a bit over-pretty, but I think the peacock saves the day. It's got nice, deep, dark colors that keep the painting from drowning in purple and sunshine.

Friday, February 5, 2010

A Fisherman's Goodbye

(click to enlarge)
Philippe Lodowyck Jacob Sadee
(Dutch, 1837-1904)
A Fisherman's Goodbye, ????
Oil on canvas

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Peacock Profile

(click to enlarge)
Edgar Maxence
(French, 1871-1954)
Peacock Profile, 1896
Pastel and gouache on silver

I love peacocks! There's two in this picture, make sure to spot them both!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Moonlight After Rain

(click to enlarge)
John Atkinson Grimshaw
(English, 1836-1893)
Moonlight After Rain, ????
Oil on canvas

Ooooh, isn't this painting creepy? I absolutely love it. It looks like it's straight out of a Gothic novel! The moonlight and the trees are perfect.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Among Friends

 
(click to enlarge)
Arthur Wardle
(English, 1864-1949)
Among Friends, ????
Oil on canvas

For everyone who likes dogs. ;)

Monday, February 1, 2010

Lady with a Glove


(click to enlarge)
Charles Auguste Emile Durand
(French, 1838-1917)
Lady with a Glove, 1869
Oil on canvas

Check out the pretty wallpaper! I also love the bright yellow flower!