Elena Kukanova, 1979 | Figurative painter

Russian painter Elena Kukanova /Елена Куканова was born in Moscow.

She studied at the Art School and Lyceum of Moscow from 1988-1998.

For the next six years Kukanova attended the Art Academy of Moscow where the focus was entirely on portraits. Her father is a Colonel in the Russian Army.

She grew up in an environment where she was exposed to the military world of Russia.

She loves the theatre and currently works in one of Moscow`s theatres as a costume and scenery designer.

William Shakespeare | Sonetto V

In original english➦ William Shakespeare | Sonnets, 1609

V

L’ore cortesi che squisite danno

le forme al tuo bel viso, onde ogni sguardo

è avvinto, quel potere empio s’avranno:

fare meschino quel ch’era gagliardo.

Richard (Riccardo) Aurili (1834-1914)

Olga Akasi, 1970 | Symbolist painter

Ольга Акаси was born in Kiev, Ukraine. Lives and works in Kiev.

"Ukrainian artist, the unique in the Ukraine, who works in the technology of old masters, without being neither the restorer, nor the museum worker.

Akasi is an artist of the new generation with an original manner and theme characteristic for all her works. However, she never follows methods of actual art specializing in criticizing the public taste or perception standards".

John Atkinson Grimshaw | Moonlight painter

John Atkinson Grimshaw (1836-1893) was an British Victorian artist who became famous for his sombre views of the dockyards and his nocturnal scenes of urban lanes with leafless trees silhouetted against the moonlight sky.
During his later life, he became a close friend of James McNeill Whistler who admired his work and admitted: "I considered myself the inventor of nocturnes until I saw Grimmy’s moonlight picture".
For biographical notes -in english and italian- and other works by Grimshaw see Atkinson Grimshaw | Victorian-era painter.

Leonardo da Vinci | Come la pittura avanza tutte le opere umane..

Trattato della Pittura - Parte prima /15

L'occhio, che si dice finestra dell'anima, è la principale via donde il comune senso può piú copiosamente e magnificamente considerare le infinite opere di natura e l'orecchio è il secondo, il quale si fa nobile per le cose racconte, le quali ha veduto l'occhio. Se voi istoriografi, o poeti, o altri matematici, non aveste con l'occhio visto le cose, male le potreste voi riferire per le scritture.

Leonardo da Vinci | Come la scienza dell'astrologia nasce dall'occhio..

Trattato della Pittura - Parte prima /13

Nessuna parte è nell'astrologia che non sia ufficio delle linee visuali e della prospettiva, figliuola della pittura; perché il pittore è quello che per necessità della sua arte ha partorito essa prospettiva, e non si può fare per sé senza linee, dentro alle quali linee s'inchiudono tutte le varie figure de' corpi generati dalla natura, e senza le quali l'arte del geometra è orba.

Édouard Cortès | Paris painting

"I was born from and for painting…" Èdouard Cortès

Édouard Leon Cortès (1882-1969) is an French painter, known for his Paris cityscapes in a variety of weather and night settings. Édouard Leon Cortès was born in Lagny-sur-Marne, a few miles east of Paris.
For biographical notes -in english and italian- and other works by Cortès see Edouard Cortes ~ Post-Impressionist painter.

Ferdinando Vichi | Romantic sculptor of La Belle Époque

Ferdinando Vichi was born in Florence in 1875 and died there in 1941.

He was well-known and much appreciated sculptor who produced numerous works of art, including busts and tomb-stones.

Ferdinando Vichi was a central figure in the production of Florentine sculpture at the end of the 19th century.