Francois-Joseph Navez's "Massacre of the Innocents"

Alfred Stevens, "The Bath"

I like how this painting was painted, and the figure is painted very well--that elbow is fantastic. I even like the color, but I wish the model wasn't so "posed" looking. Her props (hair, armband, flowers) are very artificial looking to me. She definitely does not look like someone who is bathing normally. But a good painting nonetheless.

Xavier Mellery's "After Evening Prayer"

I'm back from my holiday travels. I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving and Reason's Harvest.



I think the composition of this brilliant painting is not only very clever by itself but, along with the color and value, it enhances the subject matter wonderfully. Paintings like this, while they may embody a philosophy that I don't agree with, are excellent to learn from.