c.s. harris &
Antonio Joli was an Italian painter of vedute and capricci.
William Henry Harrison, an American military officer and politician, became the ninth President of the United States in 1841, making history with the shortest presidency due to his death just 31 days after taking office. Born on February 9, 1773, in Charles City County, Virginia, Harrison was the last U.S. president born as a British subject and the paternal grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president.
William Henry Harrison's early military career was marked by notable achievements, including participating in the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, which concluded the Northwest Indian War. His leadership against Tecumseh's confederacy at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811 earned him the nickname "Old Tippecanoe." He was later promoted to major general during the War of 1812, securing a significant victory at the Battle of the Thames, which effectively ended the Indian confederation led by Tecumseh.
Before his presidency, William Henry Harrison had a prolific political career, starting in 1798 when he became the secretary of the Northwest Territory. He was then elected as the territory's delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1799. In 1801, he became the governor of the Indiana Territory, where he negotiated numerous treaties with Native American tribes, acquiring vast tracts of land for the United States. Harrison's political journey also included terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate, and as the U.S. Minister to Colombia before being nominated by the Whig Party for the presidency in 1840.
His presidential campaign was famous for the "Log Cabin Campaign," where Harrison was presented as a man of the people, in stark contrast to the incumbent President Martin Van Buren, who was portrayed as an elitist. This strategy proved successful, and William Henry Harrison won the presidency with a significant margin. However, his time in office was cut short when he died of presumed pneumonia, making his wife, Anna Harrison, the first presidential widow to receive a pension from Congress.
Harrison's legacy is complex, marked by his military and political contributions that significantly impacted the United States' expansion and development during its early years.
For those interested in learning more about William Henry Harrison, signing up for updates is a great way to stay informed about new discoveries and interpretations of his life and contributions to American history. This subscription will alert you to new product sales and auction events related to this significant historical figure, providing a unique opportunity for collectors and experts in art and antiques to deepen their understanding of American history.
James Butler was an American schoolteacher living in Pennsylvania and a writer.
He wrote the adventure novel about love and pirates Fortune's Foot-ball: or, the Adventures of Mercutio.
Louise Joséphine Bourgeois was a French-American artist. Although she is best known for her large-scale sculpture and installation art, Bourgeois was also a prolific painter and printmaker. She explored a variety of themes over the course of her long career including domesticity and the family, sexuality and the body, as well as death and the unconscious. These themes connect to events from her childhood which she considered to be a therapeutic process. Although Bourgeois exhibited with the Abstract Expressionists and her work has much in common with Surrealism and Feminist art, she was not formally affiliated with a particular artistic movement.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, a Dutch Baroque painter and printmaker, was born on July 15, 1606, in Leiden, Netherlands, and died on October 4, 1669, in Amsterdam. He is celebrated as one of the greatest storytellers in art history, acclaimed for his adept portrayal of human emotions and dramatic narratives. Rembrandt's extensive oeuvre includes portraits, self-portraits, landscapes, genre scenes, allegorical, historical, and biblical themes, as well as animal studies. His artistry shined during the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by cultural and scientific achievements in the Netherlands.
Rembrandt's education in art began around the age of 10 when he left the Latin School in Leiden to train as an artist. He apprenticed with artists like Jacob van Swanenburg and Pieter Lastman, mastering various aspects of painting. He opened his own studio in Leiden around 1624 or 1625, sharing it with his colleague Jan Lievens. By 1631, he had moved to Amsterdam, where he achieved significant success and trained many important Dutch painters.
Among Rembrandt's notable works are "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp" (1632), "The Night Watch" (1642), and "The Syndics of the Amsterdam Drapers’ Guild" (1662). He was also renowned for his self-portraits, creating around 80 over his lifetime, more than any other artist until the 20th century. These self-portraits were not just artistic endeavors but also experiments with facial expressions and lighting effects. Additionally, Rembrandt was a master etcher, transforming etching from a reproductive technique into an art form.
Rembrandt's painting style is characterized by its dramatic use of light and shadow, known as chiaroscuro. His ability to depict materials realistically was unparalleled; his portrayal of metals and fabrics was so lifelike that they appeared to glow and be tangible. He was also known for his impasto technique, applying paint thickly to the canvas, adding a three-dimensional quality to his works.
Despite his artistic prowess, Rembrandt faced financial difficulties and personal tragedies throughout his life. He declared bankruptcy in 1656, a downfall attributed partly to his extensive collection of art objects and curiosities. His masterpieces, however, continued to garner appreciation and influence generations of artists that followed.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Rembrandt's works represent a pinnacle of artistic achievement in the Dutch Golden Age. His mastery in portraying the human condition and his innovative techniques in painting and etching make his works highly prized and influential in the art world.
To stay updated on new product sales and auction events related to Rembrandt van Rijn, sign up for our updates. This subscription service is dedicated exclusively to news and events concerning works related to this unparalleled master of the Dutch Golden Age.
William Shakespeare was a British poet and playwright and writer.
William's father, John Shakespeare, was a merchant and official in Stratford. There are reports that he was a sailor for a time before joining a theater company in London. Beginning in the 1590s, Shakespeare began writing plays, and in 1593 he published a poem, Venus and Adonis, which became popular. He dedicated it to the Duke of Southampton, who was a philanthropist and patron of talent, and soon his business was booming.
From 1592 to 1600 Shakespeare wrote his dramas and romantic comedies "Richard III", "The Taming of the Shrew", "Romeo and Juliet", "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Merchant of Venice", as well as the comedies "Much Ado About Nothing", "Twelfth Night" and the tragedy "Julius Caesar". The playwright's business was so successful that he even bought a large house in Stratford. In 1599, Shakespeare became one of the owners, playwright and actor of the new theater "Globe". In 1603 King James took Shakespeare's troupe under his direct patronage. In the mature period, the great playwright turned to tragedies, there were "Hamlet", "Othello", "King Lear", "Macbeth" and others.
Although in the 19th century researchers had some doubts about the authorship of many of these works, William Shakespeare is considered the greatest English playwright, one of the best playwrights in the world. His plays have been translated into all major languages and to this day form the basis of the world theatrical repertoire, most of them have been screened many times. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Shakespeare remains the world's best-selling playwright, and his plays and poems have sold more than 4 billion copies in the nearly 400 years since his death.
Jan Dirksz Both was a distinguished Dutch painter, draughtsman, and etcher renowned for his pivotal role in the evolution of Dutch Italianate landscape painting. His journey into the arts began in Utrecht, learning from his father before becoming a pupil of Abraham Bloemaert. Both's career took a significant turn when he, alongside his brother Andries, ventured to Rome, absorbing the influence of Claude Lorrain and contributing to projects such as the Buen Retiro Palace in Madrid.
By the mid-1640s, Jan had returned to Utrecht, further honing his craft to produce expansive landscapes illuminated by a Mediterranean glow, notable for their mixture of realism in the foreground against idyllic backgrounds. Noteworthy pieces include "Landscape with Bandits Leading Prisoners" and "Judgement of Paris," showcasing his mastery in blending naturalistic details with mythological and religious figures. His landscapes, characterized by their golden light and imaginative vistas, earned him a place among the leading masters of the Italianate trend in Dutch landscape painting.
Jan Both's legacy is preserved in prestigious collections worldwide, including the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Hermitage, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Louvre, and the National Gallery, among others. His work reflects a significant Italian influence merged with his native Dutch sensibilities, marking him as a key figure in the 17th-century art scene.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Jan Dirksz Both's oeuvre offers a fascinating glimpse into the blend of Dutch and Italian influences that characterize the Italianate landscape painting tradition. His contributions not only enriched Dutch art but also provided a bridge between the Renaissance and Baroque periods, capturing the beauty of landscapes with a unique, poetic light.
To explore more about Jan Dirksz Both's contributions to art and to stay informed about exhibitions or sales featuring his work, signing up for updates from art institutions can offer exclusive insights into the world of this influential Dutch painter. This subscription ensures enthusiasts and collectors are well-informed about developments related to Both's oeuvre, enhancing their appreciation and understanding of his artistic legacy.
Zhao Wou-Ki (Chinese: 赵无极, pinyin: Zhào Wújí) was a Chinese-French painter. He was a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Zao Wou-Ki graduated from the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, where he studied under Fang Ganmin and Wu Dayu.
Canaletto, born Giovanni Antonio Canal, was an illustrious Italian painter celebrated for his masterful cityscapes, particularly of Venice and London. Emerging as a topographical painter after 1719, Canaletto became renowned for his detailed and atmospheric views, known as vedute, which captured the essence of Venice and London with a unique blend of accuracy and artistic embellishment. Despite using a camera obscura to achieve precision in his architectural details, Canaletto often infused his paintings with creative adjustments to enhance their appeal.
His early works, such as "The Stonemason's Yard," are particularly prized for their vivid portrayal of Venice's daily life and architectural beauty. Canaletto's paintings were highly sought after by English aristocrats during their Grand Tours, leading him to spend a significant period in England, where he continued to produce esteemed works capturing the English landscape and urban scenes.
Despite his international success, Canaletto's work was less appreciated in his native Venice during his lifetime, only gaining broader recognition and appreciation in later years. His legacy, however, has had a lasting impact on landscape painting, influencing future generations of artists.
If you're interested in staying updated on art exhibitions and auctions featuring Canaletto's work, consider signing up for newsletters from art galleries or auction houses that specialize in historical artworks. This way, you'll be informed about new sales and exhibition events related to Canaletto without any exaggerated language or promises.
Félix González-Torres was a Cuban-born American visual artist. He lived and worked primarily in New York City between 1979 and 1995 after attending university in Puerto Rico. González-Torres was known for his minimalist installations and sculptures composed of everyday materials such as strings of lightbulbs, clocks, stacks of paper, or packaged hard candies. In 1987, he joined Group Material, a New York-based group of artists whose intention was to work collaboratively, adhering to principles of cultural activism and community education, much of which was influenced by the artist's experience as an openly gay man. González-Torres is known for having made significant contributions to the field of conceptual art in the 1980s and 1990s. His practice continues to influence and be influenced by present-day cultural discourses.
