Van Gogh | Holland Landscapes

"I can very well do without God both in my life and in my paintings, but I cannot, ill as I am, do without something which is greater than I, which is my life - the power to create" - Quote in his letter to brother Theo.

Nicolas Poussin | Baroque Era painter

Nicolas Poussin, (born June 1594, Les Andelys, Normandy [France] - died November 19, 1665, Rome, Papal States [Italy]), French painter and draftsman who founded the French Classical tradition.

He spent virtually all of his working life in Rome, where he specialized in history paintings - depicting scenes from the Bible, ancient history, and mythology - that are notable for their narrative clarity and dramatic force.

Aelbert Cuyp | Baroque Era painter

Aelbert Cuyp, in full Aelbert Jacobszoon Cuyp, Aelbert also spelled Albert, Cuyp also spelled Cuijp, (baptized October 20, 1620, Dordrecht, Netherlands - buried November 15, 1691, Dordrecht), Dutch painter** of the Baroque period** who is known for his peaceful landscapes of the Dutch countryside, distinguished for their poetic use of light and atmosphere.

Van Gogh: "I am not an adventurer by choice but by fate"

"There is but one Paris and however hard living may be here, and if it became worse and harder even-the French air clears up the brain and does good-a world of good".

"An artist needn't be a clergyman or a churchwarden, but he certainly must have a warm heart for his fellow men".

"The diseases that we civilized people labor under most are melancholy and pessimism".

Richard MacDonald, 1946 | Figurative sculptor

One of the most collected figurative bronze sculptors at work today, Richard MacDonald** has achieved this stature through a consuming passion for his work and an unrelenting dedication to its quality and integrity.

A native Californian, MacDonald was educated at the prestigious Art Center College of Design and received a Bachelor of Professional Arts, Cum Laude.

For biographical notes -in english and italian- and other works by MacDonald see:

• Richard MacDonald, 1946 | Figurative sculptor | Cirque du Soleil

Henri Matisse's 148th Birthday

Today, Dec. 31, is the 148th anniversary of the birth of French painter🎨, printmaker and sculptor, Henri Matisse🎨, in full Henri-Émile-Benoît Matisse, (born December 31, 1869, Le Cateau, Picardy, France - died November 3, 1954, Nice), artist often regarded as the most important French painter🎨 of the 20th century.

Joachim Patinir | Northern Renaissance painter

Joachim Patinir, in full Joachim de Patinir, Patinir also spelled Patinier or Patenier, (born c. 1485, Bouvignes or Dinan, Namur, Belgium - died October 5, 1524, Antwerp), Flemish painter**, the first Western artist known to have specialized in landscape painting.

Little is known of his early life, but his work reflects an early knowledge of the painting of Gerard David**, the last of the Early Netherlandish painters. He may have studied under Hiëronymus Bosch**, the painter of fantastic allegories and landscapes.

Van Gogh in Paris, 1886-1888 | Still Lifes

The two years that Van Gogh spent in Paris were of crucial importance for his development from painter in the Dutch Realist tradition to modern artist.

His encounter with the latest movement there had a profound impact on his work, although it was a gradual process rather than a abrupt break with what had gone before.

Vincent began experimenting with new styles like impressionism, Pointillism and Japonism.

As he gradually abandoned what he later called his Dutch palette of grey tones his paintings became increasingly luminous and colorful.

Francisco De Zurbarán | Il Caravaggio spagnolo

Zurbarán, Francisco- Pittore (Fuente de Cantos, Badajoz, 1598 - Madrid 1664). Fu l'artista che meglio seppe rappresentare la religiosità controriformista della Chiesa spagnola del 17° secolo.

Profondamente religioso, Z. rimase personalità singolare e appartata. Nella sua vasta produzione di soggetti sacri, le figure assurgono a simboli di intensa spiritualità (dipinti per il convento di S. Pablo el Real di Siviglia, commissionatigli nel 1626, ora sparsi in chiese e musei della città; serie delle sante, 1639-45, in vari musei europei). Nella fase finale della sua attività si dedicò alla natura morta, che rese in modi estremamente moderni.

Van Gogh in Paris, 1886-1888

Vincent made his first visit to Paris in May 1873.

He spent a few days in the city, visiting museums and the headquarters of his employers, the international art dealers Goupil and Cie.

He then left for England to work in the firm’s London branch.

In autumn 1874, Goupil transferred him from London to Paris for two months.