Stephen Darbishire, 1940 | Interiors painter

Stephen John Darbishire was born on 1940. His father was a doctor whose forbears go back to the Norman invasion and include John Bright and more recently the Wordsworthian scholar Helen Darbishire. His mother was an accomplished singer whose family included artists and musicians, notably the celebrated Liverpudlian James Hamilton Hay.

On leaving school Stephen Darbishire trained under Da Fano and obtained a scholarship to the Byam Shaw School studying under Greenham and Garrard.

During his twenties Stephen travelled in Europe and later spent a year as a missionary in West Africa. He then explored the world of popular music where he met his wife Kerry, the great-great-niece of Frederick Delius.

The Horse of Tamers sculptures on Anichkov Bridge in St-Petersburg

Decorating the Anichkov Bridge, which carries Nevsky Prospekt across the Fontanka River in the very centre of St. Petersburg, the four statues that comprise the sculptural group The Horse Tamers are one of the most strikingly beautiful and immediately recognizable monuments in all of St. Petersburg.

Colin Staples, 1959 | Figurative painter

Colin Staples, Australian painter: For me, art has always been my vital spark, a journey of discovery into not only techniques and visuals, but of mind and letting go to watch the work create itself.

The creation of art has been my driving force since early childhood with the past 10 years seeing continued growth. The concepts behind my art have been largely influenced through many years of studying martial arts and it's philosophies of no mind; shedding the ego. I feel my best work is expressed through this approach and have developed a feeling I am now intimate with, and trust.

Jules Breton | The Weeders / Les Bineuses / Le seminatrici, 1868

Artist: Jules Breton (French, Courrières 1827-1906 Paris)*

Date: 1868

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 28 1/8 x 50 1/4 in. (71.4 x 127.6 cm)

Classification: Paintings

Credit Line: Bequest of Collis P. Huntington, 1900

Current location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gallery 802

Accession Number: 25.110.66

Alena Makarova-Levina, 1963 | Figurative painter

Alena Makarova-Levina / Макарова-Левина Елена Александровна was born in Donetsk.

Studied (1980-84) in Donetsk art school. Worked as the art director in the state puppet theatres.

In 1990 has opened own workshop on manufacturing of the different plan of dolls and puppets.

Jacques Prévert | Prima colazione...

Lui ha messo

Il caffè nella tazza

Lui ha messo

Il latte nel caffè

Lui ha messo

Lo zucchero nel caffellatte

Laurent Botella

Petrus van Schendel | Genre / Romantic painter

Petrus Van Schendel (1806-1870) was a Dutch*-Belgian* genre painter in the Romantic style who specialized in nighttime scenes, lit by lamps or candles. This led to him being known as "Monsieur Chandelle".

Serguei Zlenko, 1960 | Realist / Surrealist painter

Born in Georgia, Сергей Зленко is a classically trained artist whose works represent the school of traditional Russian painting.

His works include, amongst other things, topographical landscapes, classic ballet dancer motifs and figurative portraits of people, animals and events. Zlenko is inspired by a vast array of topics, which can be seen in his multidimensional artworks.

In his portraits, Zlenko succeeds in capturing a natural and spontaneous moment which makes his paintings almost photolike.

Alush Shima, 1942

Small Territories of Freedom under communism

Alush Shima was born in Tirana, Albania. He painted in secret under Albania’s communist regime for almost two decades, being a former Parliament member.

Alush Shima’s most perilous moment was in 1973, when the Sigurimi secret police seized his closest friend, fellow artist Ali Oseku, for letting slip praise of such bourgeois painters as Picasso and Matisse.

He worked as a set painter in Albania’s only film studio, Kinostudio.

Isabel Miramontes, 1962 | Abstract surrealist sculptor

Born in in Santiago de Compostella (Spain) and influenced by the Celtic Origins of her village, the bronze works of Isabel Miramontes have both a primitive and essential quality to them.

Her recognizable androgynous figures express a narrative of quiet certitude and the inevitable struggle of everyday man, his obstacles and triumphs.

Ferdinand Heilbuth | Academic painter

Ferdinand Heilbuth (1826-1889) was a German*-born French painter*.

He was born in Hamburg in 1826, and died in Paris in 1889, having become a French citizen in 1876.

The son of a rabbi, Ferdinand Heilbuth lived and studied in Antwerp, Munich, Düsseldorf and Rome before settling in Paris.

He entered the studio of Paul Delaroche*, remaining there after it was taken over by Charles Gleyre. He made his debut at the Salon in 1853, and his early work consisted of genre pictures and historical paintings, the latter often depicting episodes from the lives of earlier artists.

Miroslaw Scheib, 1963 | Romantic Cityscape painter

Mirosław Szeib was born in Międzyzdroje lives in Świnoujście. He graduated from Fine Arts High School in Szczecin.

For many years, the author treated the painting as a hobby and great passion, later painting became a way of life.

In the 90s he became interested in seascape painting. Sea battles started coming into existence.

Jacques Carabain | Romantic Realism painter

Jacques François Joseph Carabain, or Jacob Frans Jozef Carabain (23 February 1834, Amsterdam - 2 January 1933, Schaerbeek) was a Dutch-Belgian painter, known primarily for his scenes of cities and buildings in the Romantic-Realist style.

He was especially interested in Medieval and Baroque structures, and was often attracted to busy market places.

Valentin Gubarev, 1948 | Naïf / Minimalist painter

Valentin Gubarev /Валентин Губарев was born in the city of Gorky, now Nizhny Novgorod, Belarus.

Since 1975 he has been living in Minsk. He is a member of the Belarusian Artists` Union.

Since 1991 he has been a participant of Republican and International exhibitions of paintings.

Aykut Aydogdu, 1986 | Surrealist painter

Aykut Aydoğdu was born in Ankara and started his college education in Marmara University - Graphic Design Department after finishing high school in Ankara Anatolian Fine Arts High School.

He transferred to Hacettepe University - Graphic Design Department after one semester, and graduated from here. Prior to starting his career as an illustrator, he worked as an Art Director for advertising agencies for four years.

Today, the artist continues to work as an illustrator for domestic and foreign publishers and global advertising agencies.

Luigi Monteverde | Genre painter

Luigi Monteverde (detto il Raffaello dell'uva) (1843-1923) was a Swiss painter born in Lugano.

He became famous as a genre painter of fashionably dressed women shown in various scenes of everyday life.

Luigi Monteverde is known also for figure and still life painting.

Johann Georg Meyer | Genre painter

Johann Georg Meyer von Bremen (28 October 1813 Bremen, Germany - 4 December 1886 Berlin), commonly known as Meyer von Bremen, was a German painter who specialized in Biblical, peasant and family scenes.

In his 2lst year, he went to Düsseldorf and began his studies at the Academy of Art there, which was led by Friedrich Wilhelm Schadow, the son of sculptor Johann Gottfried Schadow.

He is associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting.

Schubert: "Chi potrà fare di più dopo Beethoven.."

"Chi potrà fare di più dopo Beethoven"...

"Who can ever do anything after Beethoven?"...

Peter Franz Schubert (1797-1828), compositore Austriaco.

"Beethoven è la retorica della nostra anima, Wagner il suo sentire, Schumann forse il pensiero: Mozart è di più, è la forma..." -

Hugo von Hofmannsthal (1874-1929), poeta, scrittore e drammaturgo austriaco.

Beethoven, 1820 | Joseph Karl Stieler (1781-1858)

Emilio Giunchi - Zenone, 1936 | Naif painter

Zenone - Emilio Giunchi - Naive painter well known in Italy and abroad, was born in Arezzo (Italy) and is known in the art as Zenone.

The artist explains the reason for the name:

"In art I chose this name because it links me to an important memory, in fact celebrated Zenone is the holy day in which I performed my first painting".

Bruno Mondot, 1964 | Surrealist / Trompe l’oeil painter

Born in France, Bruno Mondot has won numerous prestigious acknowledgments and awards*. His work is collected worldwide and may be found in distinguished collections both public and private.

The work of Bruno Mondot is both fascinating and titillating in its effect.

This highly skilled and technically proficient artist creates a deep and refined allegory of amusements.

With artistic and mythical references embedded within his canvases, Mondot contrives and reveals alter dimensional realities.

Paul Sérusier | Pittore post-impressionista

Paul Sérusier (Parigi, 9 novembre 1864 - Morlaix, 7 ottobre 1927) è stato un pittore francese post-impressionista, associato al movimento dei Nabis.

Nacque da una famiglia benestante di ceto medio e suo padre, un uomo d'affari che lavorava nell'industria del profumo, si assicurò che ricevesse un'educazione classica. Nel 1875, Sérusier fu ammesso al liceo Condorcet dove studiò filosofia classica, greco, latino e scienze. Ricevette i suoi due diplomi nel 1883, di filosofia e di scienze.

Nel 1885, dopo aver lavorato per un breve periodo nella società di un amico del padre, entrò alla prestigiosa Académie Julian per studiare arte.

Di carattere gentile, simpatico, fece subito amicizia sia con gli studenti sia con i professori.

La sua amicizia con Maurice Denis data da quest'epoca. Il primo successo giunse nel 1888 con Le Tisserand (Il Tessitore) ispirato al naturalismo fotografico e per questa opera ricevette una menzione al Salon des Indépendants.

David Adickes, 1927 | Figurative sculptor /painter

Born in Huntsville, Texas, David Adickes earned his undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics from Sam Houston State College (now University).

The summer after graduation, he attended the Kansas City Art Institute and realized that art was what he really wanted to do.

Adickes used his G.I. Bill to study painting in Paris with modern master, Fernand Leger.

He returned to Houston and began painting full-time.

Toshio Ebine / 海老根俊雄, 1978 | Romantic Fantasy painter

Toshio Ebine** / 海老根俊雄 is an Japanese artist** based in the Kanagawa Prefecture.

Started painting when he was 20.

His main medium is a gouache-watercolor mix, works, soft colors, full of romantic fantasy.

His work combines childlike wonder with the vastness of the universe in a calming aesthetic, that’s unique and beautiful.

Benvenuto Cellini | Baroque / Mannerist sculptor

Benvenuto Cellini, (born Nov. 1, 1500, Florence-died Feb. 13, 1571, Florence), Florentine sculptor, goldsmith, and writer, one of the most important Mannerist artists and, because of the lively account of himself and his period in his autobiography, one of the most picturesque figures of the Renaissance.

Early career

Cellini, resisting the efforts of his father to train him as a musician, was apprenticed as a metalworker in the studio of the Florentine goldsmith Andrea di Sandro Marcone. Banished to Siena as a result of a brawl in 1516, he returned to Florence during 1517-19 and then moved to Rome.

Prosecuted for fighting in Florence in 1523 and condemned to death, he fled again to Rome, where he worked for the bishop of Salamanca, Sigismondo Chigi, and Pope Clement VII.

Hatshepsut | The first woman Pharoah / La prima donna Faraone

Hatshepsut (Hat-shep-soot) (1507–1458 BCE), the first important female ruler known to history, lived a thousand years after the pyramids were built and seventeen centuries after the Egyptians had begun writing their language in hieroglyphs.

She ruled Egypt for two decades (ca. 1473-1458 B.C.) during Egypt's Dynasty 18. Although less familiar to modern audiences than her much later successor, the notorious Cleopatra (51–30 B.C.), Hatshepsut's achievements were far more significant.

Ruling first as regent for, then as co-ruler with, her nephew Thutmose III (who ruled for another thirty-three years after her death), Hatshepsut enjoyed a relatively peaceful reign, at the beginning of the New Kingdom.

Howard Rogers, 1932 | Sculptures

Howard Rogers began his fine art career as a highly successful illustrator on the East Coast, working on projects for national magazines and book publishers. He eventually moved west to paint full time, greatly inspired by the landscapes and cowboy lifestyle.

Today, he is nationally recognized for his western paintings, although his subjects include figuratives, florals and wildlife.

He is also highly sought after for his lyrical figurative bronzes.

Ana Mutavdzic | Abstract Cityscape painter

Ana Mutavdzic is an Serbian painter, known for working in the Abstract style*.

Mutavdzic was born in Kragujevac, Serbia - Yugoslavia.

I am driven by the feeling that with my brush I can convey my own understanding of the world to the canvas, the colours of my soul, my feelings and the way of life. It's one of the things which make me paint all over again.

Istvan Sàndorfi | Drawing

István Sándorfi was born in Budapest in 1948 and died in 2007. His father was director of the American company, IBM, in Hungary.

Because of this association he served five years in Stalinist prisons during the Communist regime and his family was deported to an isolated Hungarian village.

At the time of the 1956 uprising the Sandorfi family fled the country and became expatriates, first in Germany, then in France.

Greatly affected by the violence of the revolution and by the aberration of political systems in general, Istvan took refuge in drawing, and then, at the age of 12, in oil painting.

Jorge Luis Borges | A Poem to Friends | L'Amicizia

Pablo Picasso* - Friendship, 1908

I cannot give you solutions to all life’s problems,

Nor do I have answers to your doubts or fears

But I can listen to you and share it with you

I cannot change neither your past nor your future.

But when you need me I’ll be by your side.

I cannot prevent you from stumbling

I can only offer you my hand to hold on to you so you won’t fall.

Anita Magsaysay-Ho | Cubist painter

Anita Magsaysay-Ho (May 25, 1914 - May 5, 2012) was a Filipino painter. She was the only female member of the Thirteen Moderns, a standing group of Filipino modernist artists and in 1958 was chosen by a panel of experts at the six major painters of the country. The most famous work of Magsaysay-Ho are subject to the beauty of Filipino women dealing with everyday issues.

Vally Nomidou / Βαλλυ Νομιδου, 1959 | Figurative sculptor

G reek artist* Vally Nomidou / Βαλλυ Νομιδου was born in Thessaloniki. She graduate of the Athens School of Fine Arts, and of the Saint Martin’s School of Art of London.

Recipient of scholarship for the Greek graduate program of IKY.

Vally Nomidou makes life-size sculptures of human figures using only paper and cardboard.

The construction of her paper sculptures is a labour of layering newspaper, paper towel, and other recycled papers by cutting, sewing and rubbing to produce beautiful forms.

Jesus Navarro, 1952 | Hyperrealist painter

Jesús Navarro was born in Jerez, Cadiz, located in southern Spain.

By the age of twelve his artistic talents led him to the local school of arts and crafts -Escuela de Artes y Oficios de Jerez- where he studied painting and sculpture.

At this time He also became the apprentice of locally renowned painter, Ramírez Toro, under which Navarro learned the complex techniques of classical painting.

In 1971, Navarro moved to Barcelona where he began a phase of self-teaching, focusing on combining classical techniques along with his newly discovered self interests in detailed formation of compositions.

George Grie / Джордж Грие, 1962 | Neo-Surrealist painter

George Grie / Джордж Грие or Юрий Грибановский is a Russian-Canadian artist.

One of the first digital surrealism artists, Grie is known for numerous 3D, 2D, and matte painting images. Born in the USSR during the Soviet regime he did not adopt the conventional and politically correct socialist realism art style.

• Style

Grie's artistic style has been heavily influenced by famous surrealists such as René Magritte and Salvador Dalí, fantastic realists Zdzisław Beksiński and Wojciech Siudmak, and surreal photomanipulation artist Jerry Uelsmann. His neo-surrealist artwork is a combination of classic surrealist symbolism with modern fantasy, gothic and visionary arttendencies.

Arthur Frank Mathews | Tonalist painter

Arthur F. Mathews (1860-1945) was an American* Tonalist painter who was one of the founders of the American Arts and Crafts Movement*.

Trained as an architect and artist, he and his wife Lucia Kleinhans Mathews had a significant effect on the evolution of Californian art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

His students include Granville Redmond, Xavier Martinez, Armin Hansen, Percy Gray, Gottardo Piazzoni, Ralph Stackpole, Mary Colter, Maynard Dixon, Rinaldo Cuneo and Francis McComas.

Pablo Neruda / Duy Huynh | Ode to the Happy Day / Ode al giorno felice

Let me be happy

nothing ha s happened to anybody

I am nowhere special

I am only

happy

through the four chambers

of my heart, I am strolling,

sleeping, or writing.

What canI do? I'm

happy.

Victoria Montesinos, 1944 | Flowers painter

Victoria Montesinos, Mexican painter, was born in Mexico City and has been exhibiting works since 1972 in the U.S., Europe, Mexico and Japan.

In late 1983, Victoria moved from Mexico to New York where she had a contract with one of the largest galleries in the United States to develop lithographic works.

While there, she studied and worked with a complicated technique to produce high-quality lithographs.

Giotto | The allegories of Virtues / Le allegorie delle Virtù, 1303-1305

The bottom tiers of the longer walls feature 14 allegories, in monochrome, symbolising Vices on the North wall and Virtues on the South wall.

The Vices are: Stultitia, Inconstantia, Ira, Iniusticia, Infidelitas, Invidia, Desperatio.

The Virtues are divided as follows: the four Cardinal Virtues: Prudentia, Iustitia, Temperantia, Fortitudo, followed by the three Theological ones: Fides, Karitas, Spes.

Each virtue and vice is embedded within a mirror-like marble frame.

The name of the vice or the virtue is written in Latin on top of each figure, indicating what these figures represent: the seventh day (the day between Jesus’s birth and the Final Judgement).

Temperanza e L'Ira

Paul Verlaine | Kiss! / Bacio! Rosa malva nel giardino delle carezze..

Kiss! Hollyhock in Love's luxuriant close!

Brisk music played on pearly little keys,

In tempo with the witching melodies

Love in the ardent heart repeating goes.

Sonorous, graceful Kiss, hail! Kiss divine!

Unequalled boon, unutterable bliss!

Man, bent o'er thine enthralling chalice, Kiss,

Grows drunken with a rapture only thine!

Jaroslav Seifert / George Grie | To be a Poet / Essere Poeta, 1983

To Be a Poet

Life taught me long ago

that music and poetry

are the most beautiful things on earth

that life can give us.

Except for love, of course.

Tomek Setowski, 1961: "Mind is a characteristic factory of dreams"..

Polish painter Tomek Sętowski was born in Czestochowa, where he is still residing and where his main gallery called Museum of imagination is located.

Extraordinary sensitivity that characterized him as a little boy could be seen as soon as he was only three years old when his first painting was created.

Had been developing his painting techniques for years, taking giant steps from local galleries to the top-rank exhibitions salons, and, at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Częstochowa Pedagogical University he gained knowledge of the history of art.

Kenneth Potter | Watercolor painter

American painter Kenneth Potter [1926-2011] was born in Bakersfield, CA.

Studied: San Francisco Academy of Art, Academie Frochot (Paris), Istituto Statale d'Arte (Florence); Member: Society of Western Artists; American Watercolor Society. Ken Potter is a third generation Californian.

He grew up in Northern California during the depression and began drawing regularly at an early age.

While living in Sacramento, he received art instruction through a W.P.A. sponsored program. As a teenager, he visited the 1939 World’s Fair art exhibit in San Francisco where he viewed works by many of the world’s greatest artists. He was particularly excited about modern works, especially the French modernists.

Gianni Bellini, 1965 | Figurative Mixed media painter

Gianni Bellini, italian painter, was born in Carmignano, Italy.

A self taught and talented painter, at just fifteen years of age, he started to partecipate in important extemporary, personal and collective art exhibitions in several cities always receiving wonderful reviews and many first place awards.