Old Masters — A482: Fine Art
Hans Burgkmair the Elder was a German Renaissance painter, graphic artist and sculptor. He came from a family of painters. He studied painting with Martin Schongauer in Colmar from 1488.
Hans Burgkmayr was a versatile artist, working in various techniques including painting, woodcuts, stained glass designs and tapestries. He was known for his complex and detailed style, which included elements of naturalism and symbolism.
Burgkmayr's paintings often depicted religious and mythological themes, as well as historical events. His style is influenced by the Italian Renaissance, particularly in its attention to anatomical accuracy and use of perspective.
One of Hans Burgkmayr's significant contributions was in the field of engraving. His woodcuts were highly regarded for their technical skill and artistic quality.
Bernard van Orley was a versatile Flemish artist and representative of Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting, who was equally active as a designer of tapestries and, at the end of his life, stained glass. Although he never visited Italy, he belongs to the group of Italianizing Flemish painters called the Romanists, who were influenced by Italian Renaissance painting, in his case especially by Raphael.
Frans Floris de Vriendt the Elder was a Flemish painter and engraver of the 16th century.
The artistic style of Frans Floris was strongly influenced by the Italian Renaissance. He combined elements of Italian mannerism with his own interpretation, creating a distinctive style characterized by attention to detail, vivid colours and dynamic compositions.
Frans Floris was known for his large-scale historical and mythological paintings, which often depicted complex subjects and included many figures. His works demonstrated his ability to create dramatic and evocative scenes, exploring themes of religion, mythology and human emotion.
Tiziano Vecellio, an Italian Renaissance painter from Venice, stands out as a pivotal figure in the art world, renowned for his versatility across various genres like portraits, landscapes, and religious subjects. His influence on the development of Western art, particularly through his revolutionary use of color, is profound and long-lasting.
Born around 1488/90 in Pieve di Cadore, part of the then Republic of Venice, Titian's talent was evident early on. He began his artistic journey in the studio of the Bellini brothers in Venice, later joining forces with Giorgione, another influential painter of the time. This collaboration marked the beginning of a distinguished career that would see Titian become the most sought-after painter in Europe, working for nobility, the Habsburgs, and the papacy.
Titian's style evolved significantly throughout his career. He initially gained recognition for his vibrant, luminous colors and later became famous for his loose brushwork and subtle tonality. This shift was not just a matter of aesthetics but also represented a deeper understanding of color and light. Titian's approach to painting, particularly his use of colore, where he juxtaposed colors to define compositions, contrasted sharply with the line-focused disegno technique of the time. This method contributed significantly to the distinctiveness of Venetian art.
Among his many patrons, Emperor Charles V and his son, Philip II of Spain, were perhaps the most notable. As their official painter, Titian created numerous portraits and mythological works that were celebrated for their psychological depth and expressive use of color. His 'poesie' series for Philip II, including famous works like "Diana and Actaeon," showcased his skill in portraying mythological narratives with a sense of drama and sensuality.
Titian's later works, created in the 1560s and 1570s, are particularly revered for their experimental nature, pushing his art towards what has been termed 'magic impressionism'. These works, like "The Death of Actaeon" and the unfinished "Pietà", demonstrate a radical departure from his earlier style and reflect a continued evolution even in his later years.
For art collectors and experts, Titian's oeuvre represents a crucial link in the history of European art, illustrating the transition from the Renaissance to a more modern, expressive form of painting. His mastery of color and light, combined with his ability to convey deep emotional resonance, continues to influence artists and captivate viewers centuries later.
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Frans Francken the Younger was a distinguished Flemish painter of the Baroque period, celebrated for his versatility and innovation in the art scene of the early 17th century. Born in 1581 in Antwerp, where he also died in 1642, Francken hailed from the prolific Francken family of artists, establishing himself as the most prominent among them. His contribution to Flemish art includes a wide array of subjects, spanning large altarpieces for churches to intricate cabinet pictures featuring historical, mythological, or allegorical themes.
Francken's work is particularly noted for his creation of collectors' cabinet paintings, a genre that depicted the interiors of collectors filled with art, curiosities, and natural specimens, embodying the era's intellectual pursuits and the burgeoning culture of connoisseurship. Moreover, Francken was instrumental in the development of singeries, humorous paintings featuring monkeys engaging in human activities, critiquing the follies of mankind through satire. His collaborative efforts with other artists enriched his work, allowing him to incorporate figures and narrative depth into various compositions, seamlessly blending his expertise with the landscapes, architectural settings, and still lifes created by his contemporaries.
Francken's artistic legacy is marked by his successful workshop, his role as a master in the Antwerp Saint Luke's Guild, and his significant influence on the development of new subject matter and genres within Flemish painting. His works, such as "Mankind's Eternal Dilemma: The Choice Between Virtue and Vice," remain celebrated for their detailed craftsmanship and symbolic richness, housed in prestigious museums including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
For collectors and art history aficionados, Francken's oeuvre offers a rich tapestry of Baroque artistry, reflecting the dynamism of 17th-century Flemish culture and the depth of humanistic and religious themes explored during the period.
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Pier Francesco Cittadini was an Italian painter of the Bolognese school of the Baroque period.
In Bologna, the artist followed the teachings of Guido Reni and became known for his portraits and lush still lifes, including vanitas.
Jacob Grimmer was a Flemish painter who was active during the Late Renaissance. He specialised in landscapes and genre scenes, often depicting the everyday life of peasants.
His style was strongly influenced by Pieter Bruegel the Elder and the works of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael.
Grimmer's paintings are characterized by detailed, realistic depictions of nature. His landscapes are characterized by wide expanses and intricate detail.
Jacob Grimmer was known for his ability to capture the nuances of human behaviour, so his genre works depict the lives of peasants with a touch of humour and whimsy.