Artists

Antoine-Jean Gros (1771-1835) was known for his contributions to the Romanticism movement and his depictions of Napoleon Bonaparte’s military conquests. Antoine-Jean Gros Summary: He was Napoleon’s favorite painter and produced several paintings of the emperor himself and his army. His father, a miniature painter, trained him at a young age. He then began his apprenticeship […]

Claude Lorrain (1600-1682) was one of the first notable painters to specialize in landscape painting. Claude Lorrain Summary: Lorrain was born in France but lived in Italy for most of his life. His elder brother, Jean, taught him the basics of drawing. He loved to work outdoors and observe nature to create depictions that equal

Caravaggio (1573-1610) is regarded as one of the greatest painters of the Italian Baroque era. Caravaggio Summary: Born Michelangelo Merisi, he adapted the name Caravaggio after his birthplace in Northern Italy. Was once dubbed the “anti-Christ of painting” as he was known to disregard the works of the classical masters. He lived quite a troubled

Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) was an English landscape painter and portraitist and was one of the leading painters in 18th century Europe. Thomas Gainsborough Summary: He was born and raised in Suffolk, England to John, a weaver, and Mary, a sister of Reverend Humphry Burroughs. The house he spent his childhood in is now known as

Jan Steen (1626-1679) was a genre painter in the 17th century Netherlands. Jan Steen Summary: His parents ran a tavern called The Red Halber. Besides painting everyday scenes, also known as genre painting, he also enjoyed painting portraits. There is a Dutch proverb usually attributed to messy households that pays homage to the scenes he

Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) made illustrations for the Protestant Reformation and was known as the artist of the said movement. Lucas Cranach the Elder Summary: He was brought up in Central Germany. Cranach was good friends with Martin Luther, the man who initiated the Protestant Reformation. He was also a printmaker and worked with

Fitz Henry Lane (1804—1865) was a painter and printmaker who specialized in the Luminism style, so-called for its special effect of lighting. Fitz Henry Lane Summary Born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, he changed his birth name at the age of 27 Had little formal education in the arts; learned his craft at a lithographer’s shop in

Jean-Léon Gérôme (May 11, 1824—January 10, 1904) was the most eminent academicist French painter between the 1860s and 1880s when he also became a reference for the traditionalists against the modernists. Jean-Léon Gérôme Summary: He was educated under Paul Delaroche, who brought him to Italy which heightened his interest in art. His body of work

François Boucher (1703—1770) was a noted French Rococo artist, noted for his pastoral themes and decorative predilection. François Boucher Summary Born in Paris, Boucher remained a successful painter in the capital all his life Became the symbol of the Rococo taste under Louis XV (1715-1774) and First Painter of the King Brought erotic elements into

Giorgione (1470s—1510) was a remarkable painter of the Venetian school about whom little is known. Giorgione Summary Born on the periphery of Venice, he became a renowned painter in his 20s Close collaboration with Titian and Bellini has left ambiguities about authorship Recognized as an ingenious innovator even by his masters and known for his

Orazio Gentileschi (1563–1639) was a Mannerist painter at the courts of Marie de Medici of France and Charles I of England. Orazio Gentileschi Summary Born in Pisa to a family of Florentine artisans, learns the goldsmith’s craft Already as a teenager, becomes a Mannerist decorator for popes Gregory XIII and Sixtus V By 1603, influenced

J. M. W. Turner (1775—1851) was the great Romantic landscapist of English painting. J. M. W. Turner Summary His father, a butcher, was an enthusiastic supporter and the first to sell his drawings The deaths of his father (his studio assistant) and Edward Thomas Daniell affected him deeply Admitted to the Royal Academy of Art

Henri Matisse (1869—1954) was one of the great modernists of 20th-century European painting. Henri Matisse Summary Discovered Impressionism and Vincent van Gogh in 1896 through John Russell Led the Fauvism movement (1904-1908) within which he produced Luxe, Calme et Volupté Met Picasso in 1906, an artist with whom he is often compared Gertrude Stein and

Anthony van Dyck (1599—1641) was a Flemish Baroque painter and famous court painter in England. Anthony van Dyck Summary Born to a family of merchants from Antwerp, became a professional painter by the age of 15 Acknowledged by Rubens as his best pupil, their relationship is overall obscure In 1620 employed by King James I

Artemisia Gentileschi(1593 or 1590–c. 1652), was a leading Italian Baroque artist. She is considered to be one of the finest female painters to have ever lived and today she is an inspiration to many women around the world. Her paintings now have the same status as her male contemporaries, something that was unthinkable until recently.

Armand Guillaumin (1841—1927) was an artist and member of the French Impressionist circle. Armand Guillaumin Summary Born in Paris and died in its periphery, in Orly Met Paul Cézanne and Camille Pissarro as a student at the Académie Suisse Worked as a railway official until he decided to pursue a career in art Influenced Paul

Lucien Pissarro (1863—1944) was a Neo-Impressionist painter mainly concerned with landscapes. Lucien Pissarro Summary Born in Paris; died in Hewood, Dorset Son of Camille Pissarro, from whom he received his artistic education Exhibited at the last Impressionist exhibition, that of 1886 Lived in England from the 1880s onwards, in Epping and Stamford Brook Contributed to

Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780—1867) was a Neoclassical painter most appreciated for his portraits and his various influence on a new generation of painters Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres Summary Born in Montauban, in Southern France, he died in Paris, in the area of the Quai Voltaire Studied under Jacques-Louis David before attending, very successfully, the École des Beaux-Arts Worked

Frans Hals (c.1582—1666) was a renowned portraitist of the Dutch Golden Age based in Haarlem Frans Hals Summary Born in c. 1582 Antwerp, in the Spanish Netherlands; died in Haarlem As an illustrious portrait painter, produced the most famous portrait of René Descartes Well established in the city of Haarlem, demanded that his patrons, be

Carolus-Duran (1837—1917) was an artist, art teacher, and fashionable portraitist in the France of the Third Republic. Carolus-Duran Summary Born in Lille, Paris; died in the capital Paris ‘Carolus-Duran’ is a moniker derived from his name: Charles Auguste Émile Durand Very successful at the Salon, winning several gold medals Specialised in portraiture and ran a