Antione Watteau's "Fêtes Vénitiennes"

Nationality: French
Born-Died: 1684-1721
Creation Date: 1718-1719
Size: 93.9 x 47.7 in (55.9 x 45.7 cm)
Media: Oil on canvas 
Location: The National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK


This wonderful painting is another example of a work that was given a title after the death of the artist.  Apparently the lutist is a depiction of Watteau himself.  It appears as if the primary figures in this painting are about to engage in a very serious dance.  As is typical of Watteau, it also appears as if some sexual advances are being made by other characters.

John William North's "Halsway Court, Somerset"

Nationality: English

Born-Died: 1842-1900

Media: Watercolor

A very nice painting for spring.

Arthur Hacker's "Imprisoned Spring"

Nationality: English
Born/Died: 1858-1919
Creation Date: 1911
Size: 36.2 x 28.1 in. (92 x 71.5 cm)
Media: Oil on canvas
Location: Private Collection

The shadows and sunlight on the table and the way the figure looms out of the darkness are particularly striking.

Raimundo de Madrazo y Garetta's "Masqueraders"

Nationality: Spanish
Born/Died: 1841-1920

Creation Date: 1875–78
Size: 40 x 25.5 in. (101.6 x 64.8 cm)
Media: Oil on canvas
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York, USA

I just discovered this wonderful painting and instantly fell in love with it. It seems to be a corner of a costume party that has just started getting a little out of hand. Coats have been shed, gloves slipped off, and already a little foot-rest has been knocked over.

Photos by me.

John White Alexander's "June"

On this Day in Art History: David Wilkie died (1841)

Nationality: American
Born/Died: 1856-1915

Creation Date: 1911
Size: 48 7/8 x 36 in. (124 x 9.16 cm)
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C., USA
Media: Oil on Canvas

Thomas Millie Dow's "Spring"

Sandro Botticelli's "Primavera"

Lawrence Alma-Tadema's "Spring"

Positive Portrayals of Sex in Art: Auguste Rodin's "Eternal Spring"

Rodin made a great deal of very steamy, sensual, voluptuous sculptures and drawings. He is an artist that I imagine some Objectivists might be a little unsure of--some of his work presents man as strong and ecstatic while some of it presents man as tortured and crushed. He reminds me somewhat of both Michelangelo and Victor Hugo in that regard. Intrestingly, Rodin was actually a contemporary of Hugo (click here to see a bust of Hugo by Rodin.)