decadence
John Hill was a British botanist, pharmacologist and physician, geologist, writer and journalist.
Hill edited the monthly British Magazine for several years, and also wrote a daily society gossip column in The London Advertiser and Literary Gazette. His satirical, often on the edge of propriety articles were often the cause of scandals. Hill also wrote novels, plays, and scientific works on geology, medicine, philosophy, and botany.
In 1759, the first of the 26 volumes of his Plant System was published. This voluminous work contained descriptions of 26,000 different plants and 1,600 illustrations. For this long work, Hill received the Order of Vasa from the Swedish king and began calling himself Sir.
Robert Indiana (born Robert Clark) was an American artist associated with the pop art movement.
His iconic image LOVE was first created in 1964 in the form of a card which he sent to several friends and acquaintances in the art world. In 1965, Robert Indiana was invited to propose an artwork to be featured on the Museum of Modern Art's annual Christmas card. Indiana submitted several 12” square oil on canvas variations based on his LOVE image. The museum selected the most intense color combination in red, blue, and green. It became one of the most popular cards the museum has ever offered. Indiana continued to develop his LOVE series, and in 1966, worked with Marian Goodman of Multiples, Inc. to make his first LOVE sculpture in aluminum. In 1970, Indiana completed his first monumental LOVE sculpture in Cor-Ten steel which is in the collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
In addition to being a painter and sculptor, Indiana made posters and prints and also designed stage sets and costumes for the Virgil Thompson and Gertrude Stein opera The Mother of Us All. Indiana's artwork has been featured in numerous exhibitions around the world and is included in the permanent collections of many major museums including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Tate Modern, London; and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde - Irish writer, poet, philosopher and playwright, a bright representative of the literature of the Victorian period.
Oscar's parents were fond of literature and history, gave their son an excellent education. After graduating from Oxford University, Oscar moved to London, where he quickly entered the circle of secular society. His first book, a collection of poems, was published in 1881. Over the next year, the aspiring writer traveled across America with lectures on art. Then he traveled to France, where he met key figures of French literature of the time - Victor Hugo, Paul Verlaine, Emile Zola and others. Returning to his homeland, Oscar married, thanks to which his children's fairy tales appeared. His popularity grew rapidly, his work was favorably reviewed by Bernard Shaw.
Next, "The Crime of Lord Arthur Seville", "The Canterville Ghost", "The Sphinx without a riddle" were written. In 1890 Oscar Wilde wrote the novel "The Portrait of Dorian Gray", which was considered immoral in high society, but it brought the author the greatest fame. This novel is still considered a classic of world literature to this day. In the early 1890s Oscar Wilde wrote comedy plays "Lady Windermere's Fan", "A Woman Not Worth Watching", "An Ideal Husband" and "How Important It Is to Be Serious". In them, the author shows himself a master of witty dialog. During his life, Wilde wrote nine plays, one novel, many poems, stories and essays.
Bright and full life of a successful and talented writer ended when he met Lord Alfred Douglas. For this scandalous connection with the man, Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years in prison. After leaving prison, he settled in France under an assumed name, abandoned by everyone. He wrote his last work, the autobiographical "Ballad of Reading Prison" two years before his death at the age of 46.
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Lawrence Alma-Tadema was a Dutch-British artist renowned for his detailed and romanticized portrayals of ancient civilizations, particularly Rome and Egypt. His meticulous attention to historical accuracy and the lavish representation of marble and luxurious settings distinguished his work. Notably, his fascination with ancient cultures was sparked by his honeymoon visit to Italy and Pompeii, influencing his artistic focus for decades.
Lawrence Alma-Tadema's early work, such as "The Education of the Children of Clovis," showcased his interest in historical subjects and established his reputation. This painting, alongside others like "The Sad Father," demonstrates his commitment to historical detail and narrative depth.
After moving to England due to the Franco-Prussian War and personal reasons, Lawrence Alma-Tadema's career flourished. His works, characterized by their bright palette and refined details, resonated with Victorian audiences, earning him considerable fame and financial success. He was knighted in 1899 and continued to be a pivotal figure in Victorian art, influencing peers and future generations alike.
Lawrence Alma-Tadema's legacy experienced a decline posthumously but saw a resurgence in the 1970s. Today, he is celebrated for his contributions to the Neoclassical and Victorian art movements, with his works featured in prominent collections worldwide, including the Getty Museum and the Tate Gallery.
If you are fascinated by Lawrence Alma-Tadema's artwork and wish to stay updated on sales and auction events related to his works, consider signing up for updates. This will ensure you remain informed about new opportunities to explore and possibly acquire pieces of his illustrious legacy.
Ilya Yefimovich Repin (Russian: Илья Ефимович Репин) was a preeminent Russian artist, celebrated for his profound influence on the world of art, particularly painting. Born in 1844 in the Russian Empire, Repin distinguished himself as a pivotal figure in bringing Russian art to the forefront of the European scene. His works, characterized by their vivid realism and profound emotional depth, offer a window into the cultural, social, and historical landscapes of 19th-century Russia.
Repin's oeuvre is a testament to his exceptional skill in capturing the essence of his subjects, ranging from the peasantry to the elite, and his commitment to portraying the Russian spirit. His paintings, such as "Barge Haulers on the Volga" and "Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan," are lauded for their meticulous detail, dynamic compositions, and the way they convey powerful narratives and emotions. These masterpieces are housed in prestigious museums and galleries worldwide, including the State Russian Museum and the Tretyakov Gallery, affirming Repin's enduring legacy in the annals of art history.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Repin's works represent not only significant cultural and historical value but also a deep emotional resonance that transcends time. His ability to intertwine the beauty and tragedy of human experience with the rich tapestry of Russian culture makes his art a compelling exploration for enthusiasts and scholars alike. To stay informed about new product sales and auction events related to Ilya Yefimovich Repin, we invite you to sign up for updates. This subscription is a gateway to exclusive insights and opportunities in the realm of art and antiques, focusing solely on Repin's illustrious work.
![GAVARNI, Paul [Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier] (1804-1866)](/assets/image/picture_2943066/6bf98/1cf364d2e659d8c816128580534303d11689199200jpg__fix_374_244.jpeg)
![GAVARNI, Paul [Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier] (1804-1866)](https://veryimportantlot.com/assets/image/picture_2943066/6bf98/1cf364d2e659d8c816128580534303d11689199200jpg__fix_374_244.jpeg)
Paul Gavarni, real name Hippolyte Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier, was a French painter, cartoonist, illustrator, and a prominent 19th-century satirist.
Beginning his career as an assistant engineer, he showed signs of his future genius in the late 1820s as a fashion designer and illustrator. His talent for caricature and satirical art, however, led him to the editorship of Les Gens du Monde in 1835. Paul Gavarni, one of the smartest caricaturists, had no equal in drawing, capturing the follies and foibles of his time. He developed close friendships with many other leading artists and contemporary writers, including Honoré Balzac, Charles Dickens and William Maykpis Thackeray. His work was collected by Queen Victoria, as well as by Edgar Degas and Vincent van Gogh.
Gavarnie's long association with the popular magazine Le Charivari, with which Dumier and other cartoonists of the time also collaborated, was the pinnacle of his career. Working continuously from 1838 to 1844, he produced more than 900 engravings illustrating secular Parisian life with great wit, charm, and satire. He also illustrated the novels of Balzac and Eugène Sue and the short stories of Hoffmann. In addition to satirical works, Gavarni also distinguished himself in portraiture and sketches.
But it was not only in social circles that Gavarni revolved, where he was admired. In 1847 he spent a year in London, painting the inhabitants of the poor quarters around Whitechapel and producing some of his best work there.
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was a British writer and poet, translator, philologist, and linguist.
Tolkien wrote many works in the genre of magical fiction. He became world famous for his fantasy books The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954-55).
"The Hobbit" was published in 1937 with drawings by the author and proved so popular that the publisher asked him to write a sequel. The result, 17 years later, was Tolkien's masterpiece, "The Lord of the Rings," which was voted the best book of the 20th century. By the beginning of the 21st century, more than 50 million copies had been sold in 30 languages. The film version of "The Lord of the Rings" by New Zealand director Peter Jackson, released in three parts in 2001-2003, broke world viewing records.
Tolkien has been called the "father" of modern high fantasy literature.
Evelyn Waugh, full name Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh, was a British satirical writer, travel writer and historian.
Evelyn Waugh studied at Lancing College in Sussex and at Hertford College in Oxford. He then began traveling and writing, soon earning a reputation as a witty satirist. He visited Ethiopia and the Belgian Congo, and traveled to South America. His works are almost always based on personal experience; notable among the early ones are Decline and Fall (1928), Nasty Bodies (1930), Black Mischief (1932), and others.
During World War II, Evelyn Waugh served in the Royal Marines and the Royal Horse Guards. Written at this time, the novel "Return to Brideshead" (1945) is about an aristocratic English Roman Catholic family. In the trilogy "Men in Arms" (1952), "Officers and Gentlemen" (1955) and "Unconditional Surrender" (1961), the author conducted a serious analysis of the events of World War II, as an eternal struggle between good and evil, civilization and barbarism. Later on these works were filmed television series.
Evelyn Waugh also left a significant trace in journalism and literary criticism, he is considered one of the finest stylists in English prose of the XX century.
Joan Miró, a celebrated Spanish artist, was a master in painting, sculpture, and ceramics, renowned for his unique style that blurred the lines between Surrealism, Fauvism, and Expressionism. Born in Barcelona to a family of a goldsmith and a watchmaker, Miró grew up immersed in the rich cultural heritage of the Barri Gòtic neighborhood. His artistic journey began with drawing classes at the age of seven and continued at the prestigious La Llotja art academy. Despite an initial venture into the business world, Miró's passion for art prevailed, leading him to abandon his clerical career after a nervous breakdown.
Miró's work is noted for its exploration of the subconscious, often depicting a childlike perspective. This approach was both a critique of traditional painting methods and a means of expressing Catalan pride. His art, challenging to categorize, often featured symbolic elements and nationalistic qualities. One of his notable early works, "The Farm," reflects a transition to a more individual style, blending elements of his Catalan roots with broader artistic influences. This piece, later purchased by Ernest Hemingway, encapsulated the essence of Spain in its imagery.
In Paris, Miró joined the Surrealist movement in 1924, where his work began to reflect the influence of automatism, emphasizing spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation. He experimented with various mediums, including painting-poetry and collage, and even ventured into set and costume design for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.
During World War II, Miró remained in Spain, and his work from this period, including the 22 Constellations series, reflected an interest in the night, music, and stars. His forms became increasingly abstracted, and he experimented with various techniques, often incorporating primary colors and evocative titles.
Miró's career spanned several decades, during which he continually evolved his style and explored new mediums. His contributions to art were recognized with numerous awards and retrospectives, including a major career retrospective at MoMA in 1941 and the Spanish Gold Medal for Fine Arts in 1980. Among his last major works was a tapestry for the World Trade Center in New York City, created in 1974.
For art collectors and enthusiasts, Joan Miró remains a figure of immense interest, not only for his distinct style and contributions to Surrealism but also for his ability to blend poetic imagery with political commentary. To stay updated on new product sales and auction events related to Joan Miró, sign up for our updates and immerse yourself in the world of this extraordinary artist.
Alejandro Jesús Obregón Rosės was a Colombian painter, muralist, sculptor and engraver.
Obregón is a good example of the abstract Surrealist trend in Latin America.
Color plays a fundamental role in integrating the structures of his design, using geometric forms and expressionism.
