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.

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.

Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510)