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Saint Francis and the Birds, 1935 by Sir Stanley Spencer.
St. Francis seems to be given a comical take as he appears to admonish the heavens for giving him the admiration of the animals, in this particular case, birds. The model for St. Francis was the artist's father who is shown wearing a bathrobe rather than the monk's robe St. Francis would have worn.
Wheatfield, 1888 by Vincent van Gogh.
1888 was a busy year for van Gogh he moved down to the South of France where he was energized by the subjects and the natural light, Gauguin came to stay with him which prompted the episode where he cut-off part of his ear, and his beloved brother Theo married.
The Battle of San Romano, c. 1450 by Paolo Uccello.
Uccello was fascinated with perspective and does his best to use "foreshortening" for the dead soldier in armor at the bottom of the piece, however it would be while before the technique would be fully understood and used less awkwardly.
The Paddock at Ascot by Raoul Dufy.
What a beautiful view. The Paddock is the area of the racecourse incorporating the pre-parade ring, parade ring and winner's enclosure. Notice all the top hats and fancy clothes, that tradition lives on.
Paris Street, Rainy Day, 1877 by Gustave Caillebotte.
An all time favorite of mine and a lot of visitors to the Art Institute of Chicago. I think it is probably the familiarity of the scene even if it is almost 150 years before today, a rainy street is a rainy street.
Cottonwood Tassels, c.1943 by Gustave Baumann, multiple collections.
Baumann was a print maker who studied art at the Art Institute of Chicago and lived for a while on the east coast before settling in New Mexico. The print shop he set-up was very successful and he is considered one of the best color woodblock American artists.
The Castlereagh Inkstand, 1818-1820, Paul Storr and Philip Rundell, London, The Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
This was a political gift given in recognition for the diplomatic and and negotiating skills of Viscount Castlereagh in negotiating alliances against Napoleon.
The Reception of Christopher Columbus by Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella, c.1830-1850 by Eugene Deveria.
Romantic painter on a grand scale of historical paintings. Considered a Romantic painter because of the scale, subjects, and emotion.
Autumn Leaves, Lake George, NY, 1924 by Georgia O'Keeffe.
It was in the fall of 1924 that Alfred Stieglitz divorced his wife and asked Georgia O'Keeffe to marry him even though they had been together for at least six years by this time. They visited his family's home at Lake George every year.
Pacific Spirit, 2003 by Susan Point.
The work of the Inuit people of Western Canada is a very compelling and thriving community of artists who draw upon their heritage and environment for inspiration.
Howling Wolf, Southern Cheyenne, 1849-1927. Oberlin Ledger, Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin, OH.
Plains Native Americans used ledgers as sources of paper to create artistic records of battles and other important events.
Girl in a White Kimono (Geesje Kwok), 1894 by George Breitner.
As an example of the influence of Japan in Europe at this time, the young girl wears a kimono in front of a floral screen. Van Gogh was fascinated with Japanese art and culture and was a contemporary (if not necessarily an admired one) of Breitner.
Washstand, 1904 by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
This beautiful washstand was designed as part of the furnishings for a house he designed called Hill House. The owner of the house also owned a series of tea rooms that were designed by Mackintosh and company.
Wokey Hole, near Wells, Somerset, c.1794 by Michael Angelo Rooker.
Rooker helped make watercolor a viable medium for serious artists. Before he concentrated on it, it was considered beneath a serious artist.
Navajo Blanket, 1881 from New Mexico, Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
In the 17th century sheep were introduced to the American Southwest by the Spanish. Navajo women used designs learned from Mexico and expanded upon them until they created their own unique designs.
The Gleaners by Jean-Francois Millet.
The Gleaners are picking up the last little remains of the harvest. Millet sets the women against a broad horizon and thereby lends a majesty to their work. This was on purpose as Millet saw the work as a social commentary against the rich vs. the poor in society.
Asparagus by Adrian Coorte (active 1683-1707).
Sometimes still life painters concentrated on a particular item in order to give it their complete attention and immerse themselves in rendering it as close to the real thing as possible.
Sir Thomas More by Hans Holbein, The Frick Collection
Holbein was a 16th century German artist who became the court painter under Henry VIII. His style, with its attention to detail, was well suited for his later work in miniature. The Tudor Rose
La Naissance de Vénus (Birth of Venus)1879 by William-Adolph Bouguereau.
Very similar in composition to Botticelli's work. Bouguereau had a very successful career. His realistic style appealed to a large number of people. A contemporary of Degas and Monet; they even conceded his extreme popularity.
Birth of Venus, c. 1485-86 by Sandro Botticelli.
One of the most famous of the Italian Renaissance paintings it is one of the most frequent images, out of thousands, when a likeness of the Greek goddess Venus (Aphrodite) is referenced.