Joaquín Sorolla: "Nothing is stronger than nature.."

• "I hate darkness. Claude Monet once said that painting in general did not have light enough in it. I agree with him. We painters, however, can never reproduce sunlight as it really is. I can only approach the truth of it".

• "Odio le tenebre. Claude Monet ha detto una volta che la pittura in generale non ha avuto abbastanza luce in esse. Sono d'accordo con lui. Noi pittori, tuttavia, non siamo mai in grado di riprodurre la luce del sole come è realmente. Io posso solo avvicinarmi alla verità".

Oscar Mersch | Cityscape painter

Spanish painter Oscar Mersch was born to a German family living in Palma de Mallorca, located in the Balearic Islands of Spain. Laying claim to some of the most impressive and influential artists born to their country, such as Diego Velazquez, Francisco de Goya, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, it is no wonder Spain is where Oscar Mersch was able to thrive in his artistic development and talent.

Louis Dali | Paris painting

Louis Dali (1905-1994) a listed French artist famous for his techniques in capturing the true atmosphere of Paris in his street scenes. He specialized in small street scenes in Paris. He has been awarded high honors in many exhibitions in Europe. Louis Dali was a member of the Society of French Artists in Paris.

Dali started his career as a mechanical engineer and had only started painting as a hobby.

He received the silver medal by the city of Paris in 1965 and won several awards at the Salons in Paris.

Gary Holland | Impressionist Figurative painter

Whether landscape paintings, still lifes, portrait, figure, or even pet portraits… Holland does them all-with passion. As the artist puts it, he has been blessed with a “passion for creation”.

Earning degrees in such disciplines as music, art, education and psychotherapy, his insightful art reflects the diversity of his interests. Holland’s work can be found in collections throughout the world. His art has been featured in the USA, Europe and Asia.

Emilio Payés, 1935 | Paris painting

Spanish painter Emilio Payés was born February 28, 1935 in Alcoy, Alicante, Spain. He began to paint at the age of fourteen. Upon turning eighteen, he began his formal training in art. Due to his talent of drawing, he was inspired and encouraged to begin training at this early age. During his education and training, he studied under the Spanish professor, Mr. Edmundo Jorda.

Rembrandt | The Jewish Bride / La sposa ebrea, 1667

Portrait of a Couple as Isaac and Rebecca, known as "The Jewish Bride", Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, c.1665-1669.

Two contemporaries had themselves portrayed by Rembrandt in historicizing costumes as characters from the Bible. The couple"s tender embrace is at the centre of this poignant painting: the man"s loving gesture is returned with a gentle caress.

The figures and their poses agree with the study, only the figure of King Abimelech spying on them is missing. We, the viewers, assume his role as witnesses of their clandestine love. | © Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

Richard Oversmith, 1971 | Plein Air painter

American painter Richard Oversmith received formal training in Fine Art and Illustration at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While at Kendall he was invited to study at the Royal College of Art in London, England. There he gained experience in plein air painting and found direction in his work as an oil painter. He graduated from Kendall College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1995 and moved back to his home state of North Carolina to pursue his dream of becoming a professional artist.

Art of El Greco

El Greco (1541-1614) painted many of his paintings on fine canvas and employed a viscous oil medium.

He painted with the usual pigments of his period such as azurite, lead-tin-yellow, vermilion, madder lake, ochres and red lead, but he seldom used the expensive natural ultramarine.

Scholars' conclusions about El Greco's aesthetics are mainly based on the notes El Greco inscribed in the margins of two books in his library.

El Greco discarded classicist criteria such as measure and proportion.

He believed that grace is the supreme quest of art. But the painter achieves grace only if he manages to solve the most complex problems with obvious ease.