Mythological painting — Auction price
Massimiliano Soldani or Massimiliano Soldani Benzi was an Italian baroque sculptor and medallist, mainly active in Florence. Soldani developed into one of the finest bronze casters of his time in Europe. Though first specialising as a medallist, Soldani also produced bronze reliefs, bronze vases and free-standing figures and busts.
Lucas van Leyden, also named either Lucas Hugensz or Lucas Jacobsz, was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
Jean Duvet was a French Renaissance goldsmith and engraver, now best known for his engravings. He was the first significant French printmaker. He produced about seventy-three known plates, that convey a highly personal style, often compared to that of William Blake, with very crowded compositions, a certain naive quality, and intense religious feeling. According to Henri Zerner, his work has a "freedom and immediacy that have no equivalent in Renaissance printmaking".
Francesco Primaticcio was an Italian Mannerist painter, architect and sculptor who spent most of his career in France.
Primaticcio's crowded Mannerist compositions and his long-legged canon of beauty influenced French art for the rest of the century.
Andrea Mantegna was an Italian painter and engraver, celebrated as the first fully Renaissance artist of northern Italy. Born in 1431 near Vicenza, Mantegna emerged from Francesco Squarcione's Paduan school, distinguishing himself early on with his mastery in painting and his innovative use of perspective. His departure from Squarcione's workshop at a young age to establish his own marked the beginning of a prolific career that would influence the course of Renaissance art.
Mantegna's work is renowned for its dramatic use of perspective and detail, which he applied with meticulous care to both religious subjects and classical themes. His groundbreaking fresco cycle in the Ovetari Chapel, though largely destroyed during WWII, showcased his early mastery of perspective, a technique that would become a hallmark of his style. This early work helped establish his reputation, leading to significant commissions such as the Camera degli Sposi in Mantua's Ducal Palace, completed in 1474, which delighted visitors with its illusionistic space and detailed portraits of the Gonzaga family.
One of his most famous works, the Triumph of Caesar, consists of a series of nine canvases that depict Julius Caesar's victorious return to Rome. These panels, celebrated for their detailed portrayal of the Roman triumph, are now housed in Hampton Court Palace in London. Mantegna's meticulous attention to classical detail and his ability to convey narrative through art have made these works stand out in the history of Renaissance painting.
His exploration of perspective reached a zenith in works such as the Lamentation of Christ, where the use of foreshortening to depict Christ's body laid out for the viewer demonstrated Mantegna's skill in manipulating visual perception for dramatic effect. This piece, along with other later works like the Madonna of Victory and the paintings for Isabella d'Este's private chambers, showcase Mantegna's continuous evolution as an artist and his influence on subsequent generations.
Mantegna's legacy extends beyond his paintings; his engravings were highly valued for their detail and technical execution, influencing artists such as Albrecht Dürer. His draughtsmanship and innovative compositions in both painting and engraving marked a significant contribution to the Italian Renaissance, blending classical themes with the emerging humanist philosophy of the time.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Mantegna's works offer a fascinating insight into the transition from medieval to Renaissance art, characterized by an increased emphasis on humanism, perspective, and a revival of classical antiquity. His paintings and engravings not only depict the cultural and intellectual zeitgeist of his era but also demonstrate his technical prowess and creative vision.
To stay informed about new discoveries and upcoming auction events related to Andrea Mantegna's works, signing up for updates is highly recommended. This subscription ensures that enthusiasts are always in the loop regarding sales and exhibitions featuring the magnificent works of this Renaissance master.
Albrecht Dürer, born on May 21, 1471 in Nuremberg, Germany, is widely regarded as the greatest German Renaissance painter. His contribution to painting and engraving is quite significant and has left a notable mark on the art world. Dürer's early life was spent in Nuremberg, a city that played a crucial role in his development as an artist and was also the site of his death on April 6, 1528. He was the son of the goldsmith Albrecht Dürer the Elder, from whom he initially learned the basics of drawing and metalworking.
Dürer's work is characterized by a combination of Gothic elements with the emerging Renaissance style, which is evident in his woodcuts and engravings. His oeuvre encompasses many themes, including religious works, altarpieces, portraits, and self-portraits. His outstanding prints, such as The Knight, Death and the Devil (1513), St. Jerome in his Study (1514) and Melencolia I (1514), are known for their intricate detail and artistic skill. Dürer was also one of the earliest European landscape painters, as evidenced by his watercolor paintings.
Equally significant are his theoretical writings on mathematics, perspective, and ideal proportions in art. Dürer was not only an artist but also a keen intellectual, his interests encompassing various aspects of culture and science. He served as court painter to Holy Roman Emperors Maximilian I and Charles V, completing several significant art projects for them. Dürer's keen mind and versatile interests brought him into contact with the most prominent figures of his time, including theologians and scientists of the Reformation era.
Dürer's self-portraits are particularly famous, demonstrating not only his artistic skill but also his self-awareness and personal style. These portraits attest to his growing success and confidence as an artist. Dürer's legacy is immense; he influenced not only the art of his time, but also left an indelible mark on the history of European art.
For those interested in the work and legacy of Albrecht Dürer, we recommend subscribing to our updates. Our subscription service is designed to provide information about new sales and auction events related to this remarkable artist. Join us to keep up to date on the latest art and antiques related to Albrecht Dürer.
Lucas van Leyden, also named either Lucas Hugensz or Lucas Jacobsz, was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
Agostino Carracci, an Italian painter and printmaker born in 1557 in Bologna, is celebrated not just for his own art but also for his significant contributions alongside his brother Annibale and cousin Ludovico to the revitalization of Italian painting at the end of the sixteenth century. While Agostino's paintings are noteworthy, he is particularly distinguished as one of the premier printmakers of his era, producing high-quality reproductive engravings of works by renowned artists like Veronese and Tintoretto, as well as his original creations.
His collaborative work with Annibale on the frescoes for the gallery of the Palazzo Farnese in Rome is one of the notable highlights of his career, demonstrating the Carracci family's impact on the direction of Italian art towards a more realistic and classical style, countering the prevalent Mannerist tendencies of their time. His untimely death in 1602 in Parma curtailed a career that, through his engravings and teachings at the informal academy founded in Bologna with his relatives, influenced a broad swath of the art world, including future generations.
For art collectors and experts, Agostino Carracci's works offer a glimpse into a pivotal moment in art history, where a shift towards classical realism was being forged. His engravings and paintings remain a testament to his skill and a vital part of the narrative of Italian art's evolution.
To delve deeper into Agostino Carracci's world and stay informed about related artworks and auction events, signing up for updates is a proactive step. By subscribing, you'll receive tailored information about Agostino Carracci, ensuring you're always in the loop regarding new insights and opportunities in the realm of art and antiques related to this influential figure.
Marcantonio Raimondi, also Marcantonio Francia, was an Italian draftsman and copper engraver. He authored more than 300 engravings of Renaissance artworks, including paintings by Raphael and ancient monuments such as architecture, vases and ornaments.
Marcantonio spent his childhood years in Bologna, but little is known of his mother and father's family. The artist was called "Marco Antonio Bolognese". According to Giorgio Vasari, Marcantonio spent some time in France, as his monogram "MAF": Marcantonio Francia confirms. Later he travelled between Venice, Florence and Rome. Influences of the French style can be seen in his works.
His work on the works of Raphael led Marcantonio to collaborate with Giulio Romano, who first commissioned from him a series of images taken from The Histories of Venus, Apollo and Hyacinth and The Histories of Magdalene and the Four Evangelists. Sixteen engravings, based on drawings by Giulio Romano, of Pietro Aretino's love sonnets and containing an erotic subject, were called "Poses of Aretino".
Camillo Procaccini was an Italian painter. He has been posthumously referred to as the Vasari of Lombardy, for his prolific Mannerist fresco decoration. He was the son of the painter Ercole Procaccini the Elder, and older brother to Giulio Cesare and Carlo Antonio, both painters.
Giorgio Ghisi was an Italian engraver from Mantova who also worked in Antwerp and France. He made both engravings and damascened metalwork, although only two surviving examples of the latter are known.
Albrecht Dürer, born on May 21, 1471 in Nuremberg, Germany, is widely regarded as the greatest German Renaissance painter. His contribution to painting and engraving is quite significant and has left a notable mark on the art world. Dürer's early life was spent in Nuremberg, a city that played a crucial role in his development as an artist and was also the site of his death on April 6, 1528. He was the son of the goldsmith Albrecht Dürer the Elder, from whom he initially learned the basics of drawing and metalworking.
Dürer's work is characterized by a combination of Gothic elements with the emerging Renaissance style, which is evident in his woodcuts and engravings. His oeuvre encompasses many themes, including religious works, altarpieces, portraits, and self-portraits. His outstanding prints, such as The Knight, Death and the Devil (1513), St. Jerome in his Study (1514) and Melencolia I (1514), are known for their intricate detail and artistic skill. Dürer was also one of the earliest European landscape painters, as evidenced by his watercolor paintings.
Equally significant are his theoretical writings on mathematics, perspective, and ideal proportions in art. Dürer was not only an artist but also a keen intellectual, his interests encompassing various aspects of culture and science. He served as court painter to Holy Roman Emperors Maximilian I and Charles V, completing several significant art projects for them. Dürer's keen mind and versatile interests brought him into contact with the most prominent figures of his time, including theologians and scientists of the Reformation era.
Dürer's self-portraits are particularly famous, demonstrating not only his artistic skill but also his self-awareness and personal style. These portraits attest to his growing success and confidence as an artist. Dürer's legacy is immense; he influenced not only the art of his time, but also left an indelible mark on the history of European art.
For those interested in the work and legacy of Albrecht Dürer, we recommend subscribing to our updates. Our subscription service is designed to provide information about new sales and auction events related to this remarkable artist. Join us to keep up to date on the latest art and antiques related to Albrecht Dürer.
Pieter Bruegel (also Brueghel or Breughel) the Elder (Dutch: Pieter Bruegel de Oude) was the most significant artist of Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting, a painter and printmaker, known for his landscapes and peasant scenes (so-called genre painting); he was a pioneer in making both types of subject the focus in large paintings.
Georg Pencz was a German painter and engraver born in Nuremberg in 1500. He studied art under Albrecht Dürer and then moved to Italy, where he joined the Raphael school and studied engraving under Marcantonio Raimondi. He returned to Germany in 1528.
Most of the paintings painted by Georg Penz have allegorical and genre content, as well as portraits with good drawing and a warm, clear colouring. His work bears the hallmarks of the Raphael School, but is not a blind imitation of Raphael's work.
He is also famous for his engravings, having produced 126 prints which show the influence of the Italian Renaissance on his work rather than the German's pictorial creations. Some of his best-known works include Cupid and Venus (Munich Pinakothek), St Hieronymus (Stuttgart Museum Staatsgalerie Stuttgart) and Crucifixion (Vienna Gallery).
Jan Harmensz. Muller was a Dutch painter, draughtsman and engraver of the Golden Age.
Jean-Marc Nattier was a French painter. He is noted for his portraits of the ladies of King Louis XV's court in classical mythological attire.
François Boucher, a French artist, is celebrated for his significant contributions to the Rococo style of painting. His works are renowned for their idyllic and voluptuous themes, which include classical subjects, decorative allegories, and pastoral scenes. Boucher's talent in creating intricate and charming paintings made him a favorite in the French court, especially with Madame de Pompadour.
François Boucher's skills were not confined to painting alone; he was also an adept draftsman and tapestry designer. His designs for the Beauvais tapestry workshops were highly successful, influencing decorative arts across Europe. Moreover, Boucher's influence extended to porcelain, with his designs being replicated on tableware and decorative pieces at the Vincennes and Sèvres factories.
Despite the later criticism of his style as overly frivolous and disconnected from the emerging Neoclassical trends, François Boucher's works continue to be admired for their aesthetic beauty and historical significance. His ability to blend various elements into a cohesive and appealing visual narrative demonstrates his mastery and enduring legacy in the art world.
For art collectors and enthusiasts, François Boucher's oeuvre offers a fascinating glimpse into 18th-century French art and culture, reflecting the opulence and delicate tastes of the Rococo period. His paintings and designs continue to be celebrated and studied for their artistic merit and historical context.
To stay updated on the latest exhibitions, sales, and events related to François Boucher's works, consider subscribing to updates from reliable art and antique sources. This way, you'll remain informed about opportunities to engage with the art of one of Rococo's most distinguished masters.
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, a French Neoclassical painter, carved a niche for himself in the art world with his profound influence from past traditions and his aspiration to uphold academic orthodoxy amidst the burgeoning Romantic style. Born in Montauban, France, on August 29, 1780, Ingres' journey into the realms of art was marked by his early study under Jacques-Louis David, leading to a fully developed style that scarcely changed throughout his life.
Ingres is celebrated for his expressive distortions of form and space, which have positioned him as a crucial precursor to modern art, influencing modernists such as Picasso and Matisse. His oeuvre, renowned for its meticulous precision and sinuous lines, skillfully bridges elements of Neoclassical and Romantic styles. Despite never traveling to the Near East or Africa, Ingres was deeply inspired by the exotic, as evidenced in his detailed and sensuous portrayals of odalisques, contributing to his posthumous recognition among avant-garde circles.
His contributions include significant commissions like "The Vow of Louis XIII," which solidified his position as a leader of the Neoclassical school in France, and "The Turkish Bath," his last major work, showcasing his enduring fascination with the female form and Orientalism. His works, including the iconic "Portrait of Monsieur Bertin" and other masterful portraits, continue to captivate, housed in esteemed collections such as the Musée du Louvre in Paris.
Art collectors and experts appreciate Ingres for his dedication to classical techniques and his innovative approach to composition and form. His legacy, encompassing both his Neoclassical roots and his pioneering forays into early modernism, underscores his unique position in art history.
For updates on exhibitions and auctions featuring works by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, sign up for our newsletter. Stay informed about new discoveries and opportunities to acquire pieces by this master of Neoclassicism and precursor to modern art.