Van Gogh: "I am not an adventurer by choice but by fate"

"There is but one Paris and however hard living may be here, and if it became worse and harder even-the French air clears up the brain and does good-a world of good".

"An artist needn't be a clergyman or a churchwarden, but he certainly must have a warm heart for his fellow men".

"The diseases that we civilized people labor under most are melancholy and pessimism".

Richard MacDonald, 1946 | Figurative sculptor

One of the most collected figurative bronze sculptors at work today, Richard MacDonald** has achieved this stature through a consuming passion for his work and an unrelenting dedication to its quality and integrity.

A native Californian, MacDonald was educated at the prestigious Art Center College of Design and received a Bachelor of Professional Arts, Cum Laude.

For biographical notes -in english and italian- and other works by MacDonald see:

• Richard MacDonald, 1946 | Figurative sculptor | Cirque du Soleil

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.

Joachim Patinir | Northern Renaissance painter

Joachim Patinir, in full Joachim de Patinir, Patinir also spelled Patinier or Patenier, (born c. 1485, Bouvignes or Dinan, Namur, Belgium - died October 5, 1524, Antwerp), Flemish painter**, the first Western artist known to have specialized in landscape painting.

Little is known of his early life, but his work reflects an early knowledge of the painting of Gerard David**, the last of the Early Netherlandish painters. He may have studied under Hiëronymus Bosch**, the painter of fantastic allegories and landscapes.

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.