Igor Bitman, 1953 | Figurative painter

The Russian-born painter Игорь Битман, winner of the Prix Spécial du Jury van de Académie des Beaux-Arts and the Médaille d’Or of the Salon des Artistes Français surprises with a diversity of techniques in a special collection of paintings.

Few artists are able to master such a wide range of painting techniques as Bitman does. In doing so, he not only achieves a high level of artistry, but he also conveys his outstanding skills.

Besides working with oil-paint he also uses an ancient technique called encaustique in which pure pigments are dissolved in wax, and are applied on the carrier with heated utensils.

The many layers of condensed wax create a palpable surface and at the same time give the colours a unique velvet shine.

Cornelis de Vos | Children portrait, c. 1600

Cornelis de Vos (1584-1651) was a Flemish Baroque painter, best known for his portraiture. He was born in Hulst near Antwerp, now in the Dutch province of Zeeland. Little is known of his childhood. Cornelis and his younger brothers Paul and Jan studied under the little-known painter David Remeeus (1559-1626). De Vos joined the guild of Saint Luke in 1608 at the age of twenty-four, later serving as its dean in 1628. When he became a citizen of Antwerp in 1616 he listed his occupation as an art dealer.

The legend of Aci and Galatea

Metamorphoses, from the greek transformations, is a latin narrative poem in fifteen books by the Roman poet Ovid, describing the history of the world from its creation to the deification of Julius Caesar within a loose mythico-historical framework.

Completed in AD 8, it is recognized as a masterpiece of Golden Age Latin literature.

The most-read of all classical works during the Middle Ages, the Metamorphoses continues to exert a profound influence on Western culture. It also remains the favourite work of reference for greek myth upon which Ovid based these tales, albeit often with stylistic adaptations.

Statue of Acis and Galatea in the Luxembourg Gardens, Paris

Stanislav Brusilov, 1976 | Landscape painter

Станислав Брусилов was born January 6, 1976 in Moscow.

From 1987-1994 S. Brusilov studied at the Moscow Academic Art Lyceum. Graduated High School with honors. 

From 1994-2000 he studied at the Surikov Moscow State Academic Institute, the faculty of painting in the studio of Professor Zabelin. During studies at the Institute S. Brusilov was awarded first prize in painting competition conducted Surikov Moscow State Academic Institute . Drawings of the artist published into the album, "The best drawings of students Surikov Moscow State Academic Institute".

Julius Sergius von Klever | Romantic painter

Юлийлий Юлиевич Клевер [1850-1924] painter and teacher. Born to German parents in Dorpat (now Tartu) in Estonia, 1850. Studied under Constantin von Kügelgen in Dorpat (1866-67) and under Sokrat Vorobyov and Baron Mikhail Konstantinovich Clodt von Jürgensburg at the Imperial Academy of Arts (1867-70, expelled). Founding member of the Society of Exhibitions of Works of Art (1874). Academician (1878), professor (1881). Organised the Russian sections at the Exposition Universelle in Antwerp (1885) and the Jubiläums-Ausstellung der Königlichen Akademie der Künste in Berlin (1886, gold medal).

Mario Sironi | Futurist painter

Mario Sironi (1885-1961) - Italian painter, sculptor, designer and architect. Born in Sassari, but lived from 1886 in Rome.

Spent a year studying civil engineering at Rome University, then decided in 1903 to devote himself to painting.

Attended life classes at the Academy in Rome and became friendly with Balla, Umberto Boccioni and Severini.

Matteo Pugliese, 1969 | Figurative Sculptor

Italian sculptor Matteo Pugliese was born in Milan. In 1978 his family moved to Sardinia where Matteo lived for the next 12 years. During this time he developed a strong love for drawing and sculpture and continued his art work without any formal education. After finishing his secondary school studies in classics in Cagliari, he returned to Milan to attend university.

In 1995 he was awarded his degree in Modern literature at the University of Milan with a graduation thesis on Art criticism.

Eliseu Visconti | Impressionist / Art Nouveau painter

Eliseo d'Angelo Visconti (30 July 1866, Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy - 15 October 1944, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) was an Italian-born Brazilian painter, cartoonist and teacher.

He is considered one of the very few impressionist painters of Brazil.

He is considered the initiator of the Art Nouveau in Brazil.

He entered in 1884 the Liceu de Artes e Ofícios do Rio de Janeiro, where studied under Victor Meireles.