david row (1949)
David Row is a contemporary abstract painter associated with the movements of Postmodern Painting and Conceptual Abstraction. His primary aesthetic has evolved around a language of painterly fragmented geometric abstraction that is usually formed on shaped canvases and installations. Row lives and works in both New York City and Cushings Island, Maine.
Johannes Brahms was a great German composer, conductor and pianist of the Romantic era.
Johannes showed a talent for music early on, learning to play the piano and earning a living from it; in 1850 he met the Hungarian violinist of Jewish origin Eduard Remenyi - from him he learned gypsy music, which often manifested itself in his later work.
In 1853, Brahms had a fateful encounter with the composer Robert Schumann. Schumann wrote an enthusiastic article about Brahms in a periodical, and from that moment the general public became aware of the young talent. In 1859 Brahms was appointed conductor of the women's choir in Hamburg, which gave him ample time for his own work. During this period he composed two Serenades for orchestra and a String Sextet in B flat major, and completed the Piano Concerto No 1 in D minor. A little later he settled in Vienna and directed the Singakademie choir.
In 1868 Brahms completed his most famous choral work, the German Requiem, which is still considered one of the most important works of 19th century choral music. The following year he composed two volumes of Hungarian Dances for piano duet - these were brilliant arrangements of gypsy melodies, their success was phenomenal, and they were performed all over the world.
For the rest of his life, Brahms never stopped composing works in a wide variety of genres: symphonies, concertos, chamber music, piano works, choral works, waltzes and songs. Brahms was a great master of the symphonic and sonata style of the second half of the nineteenth century, which placed him in the first ranks of German composers. He made his last concert appearance in March 1897, and died of cancer in Vienna in April.
Richard Strauss, full name Richard Georg Strauss, was a German composer of the late Romantic era, a bright representative of German expressionism, and a conductor.
Richard received his first musical education from his father, a virtuoso French horn player at the Munich Opera. The boy was very musical and from the age of six began composing pieces. Growing up, Strauss led a successful career as a conductor of leading orchestras in Germany and Austria. In 1889 in Weimar he conducted the first performance of his symphonic poem Don Juan, which was received with triumph. Strauss was hailed by critics as Wagner's heir and from that moment his career as a composer began.
In 1904, with his singer wife Paulina Maria de Ana, who was an outstanding performer of his songs, Strauss made a concert tour of the United States.
Richard Strauss equally idolized Wolfgang Mozart and Richard Wagner, and much of his work grew out of this reverence. He excelled at writing works for large orchestra, but he was equally successful at subtlety in chamber music. The composer possessed unrivaled descriptive power and the ability to convey psychological detail. This was particularly evident in his operas Guntram, Salome, Elektra and others.
Together with Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss represents the late flowering of German Romanticism, which combined innovative subtleties of orchestration with an innovative harmonic style.
Jan Swammerdam was a Dutch naturalist and biologist, anatomist and microscopist.
Swammerdam graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Leiden University, then studied in Paris, earning a doctorate in medicine, and devoted himself exclusively to microscopic research. He used a single-lens microscope to study insect anatomy, and accurately described and illustrated the life history and anatomy of many species. His observations of their development allowed him to divide insects into four major divisions according to the degree and type of metamorphosis. His greatest contribution to biology was to understand insect development and to demonstrate that the same organism persists through different stages.
Jan Swammerdam wrote a voluminous work entitled A General History of Insects (1669) and The Bible of Nature (1737-1738), one of the finest collections of microscopic observations ever published. Considered the most accurate of the classical microscopists, he was the first to observe and describe erythrocytes in 1658.
Swammerdam was also a recognized anatomist: in 1670 he was granted the privilege of dissecting human bodies in Amsterdam, which at the time required a special license available only to a limited number of researchers. He developed a new dissection technique and also designed several new instruments.
Jan Swammerdam was a Dutch naturalist and biologist, anatomist and microscopist.
Swammerdam graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Leiden University, then studied in Paris, earning a doctorate in medicine, and devoted himself exclusively to microscopic research. He used a single-lens microscope to study insect anatomy, and accurately described and illustrated the life history and anatomy of many species. His observations of their development allowed him to divide insects into four major divisions according to the degree and type of metamorphosis. His greatest contribution to biology was to understand insect development and to demonstrate that the same organism persists through different stages.
Jan Swammerdam wrote a voluminous work entitled A General History of Insects (1669) and The Bible of Nature (1737-1738), one of the finest collections of microscopic observations ever published. Considered the most accurate of the classical microscopists, he was the first to observe and describe erythrocytes in 1658.
Swammerdam was also a recognized anatomist: in 1670 he was granted the privilege of dissecting human bodies in Amsterdam, which at the time required a special license available only to a limited number of researchers. He developed a new dissection technique and also designed several new instruments.
Georges Seurat was a French painter, renowned as the founder of the 19th-century French school of Neo-Impressionism. His groundbreaking technique, Pointillism, involved the use of tiny, contrasting color brushstrokes that, when viewed together, created a luminous quality in his compositions. Seurat's life was a blend of rigorous academic training and innovative artistic exploration.
Born on December 2, 1859, in Paris, Seurat demonstrated an early interest in art. He received formal training at the École des Beaux-Arts under Henri Lehmann, a disciple of the Neo-Classical painter Ingres, where he honed his skills in drawing and composition. Seurat was deeply influenced by color theories and the science of optics, which became central to his artistic approach. He was particularly inspired by the work of Michel-Eugène Chevreul and Ogden N. Rood, whose writings on color contrast and harmony greatly influenced his painting technique.
One of Seurat's most famous works, "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" (1884–1886), showcased his Pointillism technique. This painting, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, portrays members of different social classes engaged in various activities in a park setting. The work is notable for its use of small, juxtaposed dots of multi-colored paint, which allow the viewer's eye to blend colors optically. This technique was a significant departure from the traditional methods of color mixing on the canvas.
Another notable work by Seurat is "Bathers at Asnières" (1884), displayed at the National Gallery in London. This large canvas depicts young men relaxing by the Seine in a working-class suburb of Paris. The painting reflects Seurat's neoclassical training, with its smooth, simplified textures and carefully outlined figures.
Seurat's final painting, "The Circus" (1890-91), represents a shift to a more dynamic representation of movement and is typical of his late style. Unfortunately, Seurat's life was cut short when he died suddenly in March 1891, leaving "The Circus" unfinished. This painting is now part of the collection at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.
Seurat's innovative techniques and his exploration of color theory and optics had a lasting impact on the art world, influencing subsequent generations of artists. His work remains a testament to the fusion of scientific principles with artistic expression, making him a pivotal figure in the transition from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism and modern art.
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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.
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Henry Spencer Moore was an influential English sculptor and artist, renowned for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures that have found homes around the world as public works of art. Born on July 30, 1898, in Castleford, Yorkshire, Moore showed early talent in art, but his journey towards becoming a sculptor was not straightforward. His experiences as a young teacher and a soldier in the First World War, where he was injured in a gas attack, significantly shaped his perspectives and artistic direction.
After the war, Moore pursued his passion for art, winning a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London, where he began to experiment with modernist influences and direct carving techniques, moving away from the traditional Victorian style. His works, characterized by organic shapes and a blend of abstraction and figuration, were inspired by a wide range of sources, including primitive art, the human body, and the natural world.
Moore's sculptures are celebrated for their unique ability to blend form with space in the landscape, offering viewers a dynamic interaction with his works. His dedication to public art made his sculptures accessible to a wide audience, contributing to his status as one of the 20th century's most significant sculptors. Moore's legacy is preserved through the Henry Moore Foundation, which supports artists and promotes public appreciation of sculpture.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Moore's work remains a testament to the power of sculpture to evoke emotion and thought. His contributions to modern art and sculpture continue to inspire and influence artists around the world.
To stay informed about new exhibitions and opportunities to view Henry Spencer Moore's work, sign up for updates. This subscription will ensure you are alerted to new product sales and auction events related to Moore's influential body of work.
Henry Spencer Moore was an influential English sculptor and artist, renowned for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures that have found homes around the world as public works of art. Born on July 30, 1898, in Castleford, Yorkshire, Moore showed early talent in art, but his journey towards becoming a sculptor was not straightforward. His experiences as a young teacher and a soldier in the First World War, where he was injured in a gas attack, significantly shaped his perspectives and artistic direction.
After the war, Moore pursued his passion for art, winning a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London, where he began to experiment with modernist influences and direct carving techniques, moving away from the traditional Victorian style. His works, characterized by organic shapes and a blend of abstraction and figuration, were inspired by a wide range of sources, including primitive art, the human body, and the natural world.
Moore's sculptures are celebrated for their unique ability to blend form with space in the landscape, offering viewers a dynamic interaction with his works. His dedication to public art made his sculptures accessible to a wide audience, contributing to his status as one of the 20th century's most significant sculptors. Moore's legacy is preserved through the Henry Moore Foundation, which supports artists and promotes public appreciation of sculpture.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Moore's work remains a testament to the power of sculpture to evoke emotion and thought. His contributions to modern art and sculpture continue to inspire and influence artists around the world.
To stay informed about new exhibitions and opportunities to view Henry Spencer Moore's work, sign up for updates. This subscription will ensure you are alerted to new product sales and auction events related to Moore's influential body of work.
