Painted in the glory days of 1833, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey exemplifies the qualities of historical painting. It’s dramatic, technically exquisite, and a bit wrong on the factual details. These elements made history paintings popular in the 19th century and then passé soon after. I have a penchant for these artworks. History paintings …
What’s the story behind Manet’s painting Mademoiselle V. in the Costume of an Espada?
– Manet’s favorite model dresses the part
– Realness and violence in a blurred background
– A lurking unconscious portrayed in paint
Why is Haystacks Autumn an important painting?
– The cycle of man’s connection with nature
– Green grass, haystacks and sheep backs
– Farmer as wizard of all he surveys
Why was Monet’s painting, The Magpie controversial when it was introduced?
– Shadows in color
– Shifting emotions traverse a – snowscape
– Observing the scene from a magpie’s perch
What’s the story behind the painting Oath of the Horatii by Jacques Louis David?
– Roman soldiers and a concocted salute
– Loyalty and love at war
– Strident brothers and their despairing sister
What’s the story behind masterpiece The Bolt (The Lock) by Jean-Honoré Fragonard?
– Velvet lady parts
– Push and pull of love
– Rococo’s exclamation point