Benjamin West PRA | Neoclassical painter

American-born Benjamin West (1738-1820) was one of the most prominent artists in late eighteenth century London.

President of the Royal Academy (PRA) from 1792 until his death, he received many commissions from George III and other English patrons, and at the same time served as teacher and advisor to three generations of American artists in London.

Michael Ancher | Skagen painter

Michael Peter Ancher (1849-1927) was a Danish realist artist.

He is remembered above all for his paintings of fishermen and other scenes from the Danish fishing community in Skagen.

He achieved his artistic breakthrough in 1879 with the painting "Vil han klare pynten" Will He Round the Point?.

Michael Ancher's works depict Skagen's heroic fishermen and their dramatic experiences at sea, combining realism and with classical composition.

Gaetano Gandolfi | I Disegni

Gaetano Gandolfi (1734-1802) è stato un pittore Italiano del tardo barocco e del primo periodo neoclassico, attivo a Bologna.

Gaetano Gandolfi frequentò l'Accademia Clementina di Bologna, ma su di lui l'influenza determinante fu esercitata dal fratello Ubaldo.

Come studente all'Accademia Clementina ha vinto due medaglie per la scultura e quattro medaglie per i suoi disegni.

Gaetano Gandolfi | Rococò painter

Gaetano Gandolfi (1734-1802) was an Italian painter of the late Baroque and early Neoclassic period, active in Bologna.

Gaetano was born in San Matteo della Decima, near Bologna, to a family of artists.

Ubaldo Gandolfi was his brother, Mauro Gandolfi was his son, and Democrito Gandolfi was his grandson.

Gaetano became a "student" at the Accademia Clementina in Bologna, where he was taught by Felice Torelli and Ercole Lelli.

Love letter from Igor Stravinsky to Coco Chanel, 1933

"Rouge de Chanel on Igor’s brow

Losing its sweet odour

Impatiently waiting for an exquisite perfume

To add itself

To the sweet memory of a kiss

From the fiery coloured lips

Of Chanel also called Coco

Fred Tomaselli, 1956 | A "beautiful" virus

Fred Tomaselli is an American artist🎨. He is best known for his highly detailed paintings on wood panels, combining an array of unorthodox materials suspended in a thick layer of clear, epoxy resin.

Tomaselli's paintings include medicinal herbs, prescription pills and hallucinogenic plants alongside images cut from books and magazines: flowers, birds, butterflies, arms, legs and noses, which are combined into dazzling patterns that spread over the surface of the painting like a beautiful virus or growth.

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) | Quotes

• In order to create there must be a dynamic force, and what force is more potent than love?
• Per creare ci deve essere una grande forza dinamica. E quale forza è più potente dell'amore.
• Gli artisti mediocri prendono in prestito, quelli grandi rubano.
• A good composer does not imitate; he steals.
• Composers combine notes, that's all.
• I compositori combinano le note, tutto qui.

Jules Grün (1868-1934) | Painter of the Belle Époque

Jules-Alexandre Grün was a French🎨 Post-impressionist painter, poster artist and illustrator.

He is called the last great artist of the Belle Époque.

Jules-Alexandre Grün was a student of the famous theater decorator of the Paris Opera, Jean-Baptiste Lavastre, and the landscape painter and long-time jury member of the Paris Salon, Antoine Guillemet.