Johannes Vermeer | The Allegory of Painting, 1666

The Art of Painting, also known as The Allegory of Painting, or Painter in his Studio, is a 17th-century oil on canvas painting by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer.

Many art historians believe that it is an allegory of painting, hence the alternative title of the painting. After Vermeer's Christ in the House of Martha and Mary it is the largest work by the master. Its composition and iconography also make it the most complex Vermeer work of all.

Angel De Cáceres García, 1966 | Neo-Romantic painter

Angel De Cáceres García is an Spanish pastel portrait and figurative painter, with the use of chiaroscuro applied to the treatment of the figure, either in portrait or bust in full body.

"I generally use as support black paper mounted on board, allowing this key work not only as background for each job, but also as an underlying melt when the colors and set different types of shadows value.

Key to this is the use I make of the texture of the paper, whose relief allows me to get, also, an effect of 'vibration' similar to the 'scrubbed' in oil painting on canvas".

Alekos Fassianos /Αλέκος Φασιανός, 1935 | Expressionist painter

France Honors Greek Artist Alekos Fassianos

Acclaimed Greek artist Alekos Fassianos, who has studied in Paris for 35 years, received one of the greatest honors of the French Republic a few days ago at the French Embassy in Athens.

In his brief greeting after receiving the award of the “Celebrities of the Officer of the Legion of Honor” by the French Ambassador Jean - Louis Delfosse,  Alekos Fasianos expressed his gratitude to the country that allowed him to show his talent.

Alekos Fassianos, officier de la Légion d’honneur, 2013

Claude Hemeret, 1929 | Expressionist /Impressionist painter

Born in Nice in 1929, thanks to his childhood spended in the sun, French painter Claude Hemeret grew fondling southern lights and scents fed him and quenched his thirst. His canvases recall the lavender’s perfume, cypresses, and the blazing Sun at noon.

Lyne Lafontaine, 1959 | Symbolist /Fantasy painter

Canadian painter Lyne Lafontaine: "Between reality and imaginary, I explore a world where human faces are at the center of my artworks.

My universe moves around symbolism, fantasy, onirism and feminity. Sensitivity and liberty must prevail upon all. To me, facial expressions and human feelings have always been a great fascination and an endless source of inspiration.

Self taught, I’ve been drawing since my very early age. I make drawings mostly using graphite, but I also use color pencil and ink.

It is with wonder and astonishment that I realize to what extent fluidity can come from the simple line of a pencil.

Drawing and oil painting are my preferred mediums. They give me the array of possibilities I’m looking for. This avenue is vital for me".

Sharon Burkett Kaiser, 1946 | Plein air painter

California plein air impressionist Sharon Burkett Kaiser engages collectors with paintings consumed with harmonious color, beauty, and the complex relationship of light and form.

The artist's developed knowledge of color comes from a keen inner sense and from years of study with prominent artists/instructors Sergei Bongart (1918-1985), Charles Movalli, and Sunny Apinchapong Yang.

This valuable guidance, along with influences including Iliya Repin (1844-1930) and Valentin Serov (1865-1911), has yielded striking original paintings filled with fresh color, depth, and vitality.

Sharon was born in San Rafael, California.

Tiziano Vecellio (1485-1576)

Tiziano Vecelli or Vecellio (c. 1488/90 - 27 August 1576), known in English as Titian, was an Italian painter🎨 during the Renaissance, considered the most important member of the 16th-century Venetian school. He was born in Pieve di Cadore, near Belluno, then in the Republic of Venice.

During his lifetime he was often called da Cadore, from Cadore, taken from his native region.

Recognized by his contemporaries as "The Sun Amidst Small Stars" (recalling the famous final line of Dante's Paradiso), Titian was one of the most versatile of Italian painters, equally adept with portraits, landscape backgrounds, and mythological and religious subjects.

Cristoforo Stati | Orpheus with Violin, 1600-1601 | Art in Detail

Orpheus by Italian sculptor Cristoforo Stati /Cristofano da Bracciano (1556-1619), famous for taming beasts with his music, is here shown entertaining himself, his body swaying to the sound of the lira da braccio.

The statue was carved for the Palazzo Corsi, Florence. | © The Metropolitan Museum of Art