contemporary
Herman Melville was an American writer, poet, and sailor.
Melville's hardship-filled youth ended on a whaling ship. He returned from his adventures in the South Seas in October 1844, and wrote "Taipi" the following spring. The book was based on the events surrounding Melville's desertion from the whaling ship Acushnet in 1842 and subsequent adventures in the Marquesas Islands.
Melville wrote several other novels and short stories and many poems, but during his lifetime his works were little appreciated by his contemporaries. Only in the 1920s began to rethink Melville, and he was recognized as a classic of world literature. World fame Melville already in the 20th century brought irrational novel "Moby Dick".
![SHTEINGEIL, Baron Vecheslav. Imperatorskaia Rossiiskaia Gvardiia [Imperial Russian Guard 1700-1878: Chronological Tables]. St Petersburg: 1878. Folio. (Spotted). Contemporary half calf (rubbed) [Lyons 4] – Imperatorskaia Gvardiia po 1 Maia 1899 [The Imper](/assets/image/picture_1874108/fb43b/80733ba0276477fba13b6821a60dcbd51638140400jpg__fix_374_244.jpeg)
![SHTEINGEIL, Baron Vecheslav. Imperatorskaia Rossiiskaia Gvardiia [Imperial Russian Guard 1700-1878: Chronological Tables]. St Petersburg: 1878. Folio. (Spotted). Contemporary half calf (rubbed) [Lyons 4] – Imperatorskaia Gvardiia po 1 Maia 1899 [The Imper](https://veryimportantlot.com/assets/image/picture_1874108/fb43b/80733ba0276477fba13b6821a60dcbd51638140400jpg__fix_374_244.jpeg)
Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author (described in his time as a "natural philosopher"), widely recognised as one of the greatest mathematicians and physicists and among the most influential scientists of all time. He was a key figure in the philosophical revolution known as the Enlightenment. His book Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy), first published in 1687, established classical mechanics. Newton also made seminal contributions to optics, and shares credit with German mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz for developing infinitesimal calculus.
In the Principia, Newton formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation that formed the dominant scientific viewpoint until it was superseded by the theory of relativity. Newton used his mathematical description of gravity to derive Kepler's laws of planetary motion, account for tides, the trajectories of comets, the precession of the equinoxes and other phenomena, eradicating doubt about the Solar System's heliocentricity. He demonstrated that the motion of objects on Earth and celestial bodies could be accounted for by the same principles. Newton's inference that the Earth is an oblate spheroid was later confirmed by the geodetic measurements of Maupertuis, La Condamine, and others, convincing most European scientists of the superiority of Newtonian mechanics over earlier systems.
![Illustrations of Constantinople, [1838], first edition, deluxe issue, contemporary portfolio](/assets/image/picture_3108867/b9192/m3vzmgv28tglz3nsnnwspanj2jjgnulrozx9k55lakpceqcza1f5vumhq8ma8vr1694157518jpg__fix_374_244.jpeg)
![Illustrations of Constantinople, [1838], first edition, deluxe issue, contemporary portfolio](https://veryimportantlot.com/assets/image/picture_3108867/b9192/m3vzmgv28tglz3nsnnwspanj2jjgnulrozx9k55lakpceqcza1f5vumhq8ma8vr1694157518jpg__fix_374_244.jpeg)
John Frederick Lewis was an English Orientalist painter. He specialized in Oriental and Mediterranean scenes in detailed watercolour or oils, very often repeating the same composition in a version in each medium. He lived for several years in a traditional mansion in Cairo, and after his return to England in 1851 he specialized in highly detailed works showing both realistic genre scenes of Middle Eastern life and more idealized scenes in upper-class Egyptian interiors with little apparent Western influence.
Augustine of Hippo (Latin: Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. His writings influenced the development of Western philosophy and Western Christianity, and he is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers of the Latin Church in the Patristic Period.
Augustine is recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. He is also a preeminent Catholic Doctor of the Church and the patron of the Augustinians.
Nicolas Sanson the Elder (Nicolas Sanson d’Abbeville) was a French cartographer who served under two kings in matters of geography. He has been called the "father of French cartography." He gave lessons in geography both to Louis XIII and to Louis XIV. Active from 1627, Sanson issued his first map of importance, the "Postes de France". After publishing several general atlases himself he became the associate of Pierre Mariette, a publisher of prints. He died in Paris on 7 July 1667. Two younger sons succeeded him as geographers to the king. Sanson's maps were used as a model by his son, Guillaume, and, at least initially, by Duval, his nephew, in his 1664 folio map and 1660 atlas minor map. In 1692 Hubert Jaillot collected Sanson's maps in an Atlas nouveau.
Gerhard Richter is a German visual artist. Richter has produced abstract as well as photorealistic paintings, and also photographs and glass pieces. He is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary German artists and several of his works have set record prices at auction.
Gerhard Richter is a German visual artist. Richter has produced abstract as well as photorealistic paintings, and also photographs and glass pieces. He is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary German artists and several of his works have set record prices at auction.
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Samuel Lewis Francis, an American painter and printmaker, was known for his pivotal role in postwar American painting and his contributions to the Abstract Expressionism and Color Field painting movements. Born in San Mateo, California, Francis' early life was marked by a deep personal loss and a significant injury during his service in the Army Air Corps, which led him to pursue painting while recovering in a hospital. His work, characterized by splashes of bright contrasting colors against expansive white canvases, drew international acclaim, particularly in Europe and Japan, underscoring his influence on the global art scene.
Francis' art evolved through various phases, from monochromatic works to vibrant, large-scale pieces, and was deeply influenced by his time in Paris and Japan, reflecting elements of Tachisme and possibly Zen Buddhism. Notable for creating large murals and his "Edge" series, Francis also founded The Lapis Press, further contributing to the art community by producing visually compelling texts. Despite facing health challenges towards the end of his life, he remained prolific, leaving behind a legacy celebrated through the Sam Francis Foundation, which aims to perpetuate his creative legacy.
Francis' artworks are held in prestigious collections worldwide, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the Centre Pompidou-Musee National d'Art Moderne, Paris, highlighting his enduring influence on contemporary art. His auction records and continued recognition in solo exhibitions posthumously underscore the lasting impact of his work on both collectors and the art community.
For those passionate about modern art and its history, staying informed about Samuel Lewis Francis' contributions and the ongoing exhibitions of his works can be enriching. Sign up for updates related to Francis to ensure you don't miss out on new sales and auction events showcasing his vibrant legacy.
Roy Fox Lichtenstein, an American icon of the Pop Art movement, is celebrated for his comic strip-inspired art. Born in 1923 in New York City, Lichtenstein's journey into the art world was marked by various phases, evolving from Cubism and Abstract Expressionism to the distinctive Pop Art style he is renowned for.
Roy Lichtenstein's artistic career gained momentum in the 1960s, a period during which he embraced the comic strip as his primary source of inspiration. His pioneering use of Ben-Day dots, a technique borrowed from commercial printing, became his signature style, bringing a new visual language to fine art. His approach transformed mundane subjects from popular culture into compelling fine art, challenging traditional notions of artistry.
Among his most notable works, "Drowning Girl" (1963), displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, exemplifies his iconic style with its bold lines, vivid colors, and Ben-Day dots. This piece, along with others like "Look Mickey" and "Whaam!", played a critical role in establishing Pop Art as a major art movement, contrasting starkly with the Abstract Expressionism prevalent at the time.
Roy Lichtenstein's art was not just limited to canvas; he explored multiple media, showcasing his versatility. His shift to Pop Art marked a significant turn in his career, bringing him fame and controversy alike. His works, often based on comic strips and advertisements, were both a parody and homage to the mass-produced, consumerist culture of his time.
For art collectors and experts, Lichtenstein's works offer a fascinating glimpse into a transformative era in art history. His approach to Pop Art remains influential, and his works are celebrated worldwide for their innovative and provocative style.
Interested in staying updated on sales and auction events featuring Roy Lichtenstein's works? Sign up for our updates. We provide straightforward, no-nonsense information on the latest in art sales and auctions related to Lichtenstein.
Eleazar Albin was a British naturalist and author of illustrated books on birds and insects.
Albin wrote and illustrated a number of books, including A Natural History of English Insects (1720), A Natural History of Birds (1731-38), and A Natural History of Spiders and Other Curious Insects (1736). His work was based on careful observation and artistic talent. Eleazar Albin has been called one of the "great illustrators of entomological books of the 18th century".
Some of the illustrations in these books are by Albin's daughter Elisabeth. Eleazar Albin himself proudly wrote of his drawings that they were all painted from life, with all the accuracy of a sketch, unlike the sketches of other scientists, who did them either from memory or from stories.
