james rothschild
James Edward Smith was an English botanist and founder of the Linnean Society.
James Boswell was a Scottish lawyer, biographer and writer.
On the advice of his father, the judge and Lord Alexander Boswell, James studied law at the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, but then led a high society life in London. After several years of traveling, he settled in Edinburgh, where he practiced law for 17 years from 1766.
James Boswell was best known as the author of An Account of Corsica (1768) and The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791). But in addition, from the early 1760s and almost to the end of his life, he kept detailed diary entries that were discovered in the 1920s and became one of the major literary discoveries of the 20th century. During his life, James Boswell met many of the great and powerful men, writers, philosophers, and scientists of his time, including Rousseau and Voltaire. His diaries record unique observations on the lives and personalities of the second half of the eighteenth century.
Thomas Daniell was an English landscape painter who also painted Orientalist themes. He spent seven years in India, accompanied by his nephew William, also an artist, and published several series of aquatints of the country.
William Daniell was a British landscape painter, marinist and aquatint printmaker, and a Royal Academician.
In his youth he traveled extensively in India with his uncle, the landscape painter Thomas Daniell (1749-1840), with whom he later worked on one of the best illustrated works of the time, Oriental Landscapes. In addition to sketches, William Daniell's diaries contain detailed and insightful descriptions of his travels in North and South India, which formed the basis of their subsequent publications and helped to shape a coherent British view of India.
Daniell was also a prolific engraver and produced countless illustrations for historical and travel works and volumes on the natural world. One of his most famous works was Journey Round Britain (4 volumes, 1814-1825).
William Daniell's work was exhibited at the Royal Academy and the British Institution, and he became a Royal Academician in 1822.
Charles-Antoine Coypel was a multifaceted French Rococo artist, known for his contributions as a painter, designer, playwright, and art critic. Born into a family with a significant artistic legacy, Coypel rose to prominence in the French court, eventually serving as the court painter and the director of the Académie Royale. His work, which often blended dramatic narrative with intricate detail, played a pivotal role in the development of Rococo art in France, reflecting the opulent and expressive tendencies of the period.
Coypel's artistic output includes a range of subjects, from religious themes, as seen in his etching "The Virgin and Child," to theatrical history paintings that convey operatic passions and high drama. His ability to infuse his compositions with emotional depth and narrative complexity, alongside his mastery of the Rococo style's playful and ornamental characteristics, distinguishes his work within the era. Notably, Coypel was also involved in the design of tapestries for the Gobelins Manufactory, illustrating scenes from Miguel de Cervantes's "Don Quixote," which remained influential through the end of the 18th century.
His artworks, such as "The Virgin and Child," showcase not only his technical skill but also his sensitivity to composition and form, contributing to his reputation as one of the leading painters in the French court during the 18th century. Coypel's legacy is preserved in his paintings, etchings, and tapestry designs, which continue to be celebrated for their artistic and historical significance.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Charles-Antoine Coypel's work represents an essential connection to the Rococo period's rich cultural and aesthetic traditions. His contributions to French art history, particularly through his role at the Académie Royale and his influence on the development of Rococo style, make his work a valuable study for those interested in the dynamics of French art and culture during the 18th century.
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Charles Antoine Coysevox was a French sculptor in the Baroque and Louis XIV style, best known for his sculpture decorating the gardens and Palace of Versailles and his portrait busts.
Philippe Caffiéri was a French sculptor. The son of Jacques Caffieri, he was received as a maître fondeur-ciseleur, joined his father's workshop and sometimes signed his independent works, especially after the death of his father in 1755, P.CAFFIERI.
Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance, celebrated as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. His remarkable abilities and innovative thinking made him an epitome of the Renaissance humanist ideal. Born in Vinci, near Florence, in 1452, Leonardo was educated in Florence by Andrea del Verrocchio, a renowned painter and sculptor. He began his career in Florence, later working in Milan, Rome, and France, where he died in 1519.
Da Vinci is revered for his artistic mastery, technological innovation, and scientific inquiry. Despite having fewer than 25 major works attributed to him, including several unfinished ones, his influence on Western art is profound. His magnum opus, the "Mona Lisa," housed in the Louvre Museum, Paris, is considered the world's most famous painting. "The Last Supper," his most reproduced religious painting, showcases his mastery of dramatic narrative and pictorial illusionism. Both paintings exhibit Leonardo's unique ability to convey complex human emotions and his innovative use of techniques like sfumato and chiaroscuro.
Leonardo's interests extended far beyond fine art. He was a visionary in multiple fields, including anatomy, physics, architecture, and mechanics. His notebooks reveal designs for machines like bicycles, helicopters, and military tanks, centuries ahead of their time. However, due to his diverse interests, he left many projects and paintings incomplete. Leonardo's final years were spent in France, where he continued his artistic and scientific pursuits until his death.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Leonardo da Vinci remains a figure of endless fascination. His works not only embody the pinnacle of Renaissance art but also provide insights into the era's scientific and philosophical inquiry. To stay updated on new sales and auction events related to Leonardo da Vinci, sign up for our newsletter. This subscription is a gateway to exploring the rich legacy of this unparalleled artist and inventor.