Pierre-Albert Marquet | From Fauvism to Naturalism

Albert Marquet (1875-1947) was a French painter and draughtsman, known for his contributions to the Fauvist movement and later for his naturalistic landscapes.

Marquet was a studio outdoor painter: he painted from his window.

It was in Normandy that he invented his formula of a landscape viewed from high up, away from curious onlookers, with an eye for framing, simplified shapes and a very sure colour sense.

Sandro Botticelli | The Birth of Venus, 1485

"The Birth of Venus" is undoubtedly one of the world’s most famous and appreciated works of art. Painted by Sandro Botticelli between 1482-1485, it has become a landmark of XV century Italian painting, so rich in meaning and allegorical references to antiquity.

The theme comes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a very important oeuvre of the Latin literature. Venus is portrayed naked on a shell on the seashore; on her left the winds blow gently caressing her hair with a shower of roses, on her right a handmaid (Ora) waits for the goddess to go closer to dress her shy body.

The meadow is sprinkled with violets, symbol of modesty but often used for love potions.

Roman Zakrzewski | Figurative painter

Polish painter Roman Zakrzewski (1955 in Oświęcim - 25 December 2014) attended the public secondary school of fine arts in Bielsko-Biała. Then he graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, where he received a degree from Jerzy Nowosielski’s studio in 1985. Since he was very young, the artist has shown interest in portraits, which have become the main theme of his artistic work.

Vera Rockline | School of Paris

Vera Nikolayevna Rockline / Вера Николаевна Рохлина (Moscow, 1896 - Paris, 4 april 1934) was born in Moscow to French and Russian parentage.

She studied at the studios of the best avant-garde masters of her time; Il'ia Mashkov in Moscow, and later Alexandra Exter in Kiev.

Rockline soon became known as Mashkov's most talented student and was noted for her painterly technique.

From 1918 she exhibited her works extensively and, like many young avant-garde artists, participated in decorating the streets of the city for the anniversary of the October Revolution.

Robin Wight | Fantasy Wire Fairies Sculptures

British artist Robin Wight uses stainless steel wire to form stunning, dramatic sculptures of winged fairies dancing in the wind. The enchanting forms, which range in size from miniature to life-sized, seem to have a life of their own as they strike dynamic poses, contort their bodies, and hold onto windswept dandelions.