peter candid
Peter Candid was a Flemish painter, tapestry designer, draughtsman and sculptor.
Pieter Candide worked mainly in Italy and Germany. He was an artist at the court of the Medici in Florence and at the Bavarian court of Duke Wilhelm V and his successor Maximilian I in Munich.
His paintings range from historical paintings, portraits, mythological scenes and allegories. He created large altarpiece images as well as complex decorative designs.
Candide's style was characterised by a combination of Italian and Flemish influences, with a particular emphasis on detailed, realistic depictions of the human form.
Ker-Xavier Roussel was a French painter, renowned for his distinctive post-impressionist style and his affiliation with the Nabis, an avant-garde artist group. Born in 1867, Roussel's artistic journey began in his teens and continued robustly into the 20th century, leaving a legacy celebrated for its mythological and bucolic themes.
Roussel's art is characterized by its vivid portrayal of mythological scenes and landscapes, often infused with a sense of eroticism and joy. His work frequently depicts Greek myths set against the backdrop of the Mediterranean, featuring figures like women, nymphs, centaurs, and fauns. These large, brightly colored paintings, such as "Rural Festival, Summer" and "The Seasons of Life," marked a departure from the smaller formats typical of the Nabis, showcasing his evolution towards a more expansive and expressive style.
A master of pastels, Roussel's work from the 1890s, such as "La Barrière," displayed at the Musée d'Orsay, reflects the Nabi style with its Japanese print influences, absence of perspective, and contrasting values. His later works, created between 1930 and 1944, often depicted violent mythological deaths, revealing a darker aspect of his artistic expression.
Roussel's contributions extended beyond canvas, as he created large paintings for public spaces and private clients, including a significant panel for the Palais des Nations in Geneva and the front curtain of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. His recognition peaked in the 1930s, with a multi-panel scheme for the Palais de Chaillot and winning the Carnegie Prize for art in 1926.
Despite a period of obscurity, Roussel's work regained attention through exhibitions like "Ker-Xavier Roussel, Private Garden, Dreamed Garden" at the Musée des Impressionnismes in Giverny, showcasing his significant contributions to art history.
For art collectors and experts, understanding Roussel's work offers insights into the evolution of post-impressionism and the Nabis' influence on modern art. His unique blend of mythological themes and vibrant landscapes represents an important chapter in art history. For those interested in exploring Roussel's work further or keeping updated on related art sales and auctions, signing up for updates is a valuable opportunity to deepen your engagement with this influential artist's legacy.
Francis Harry Compton Crick was a British molecular biologist, biophysicist and neuroscientist. He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1962.
During World War II he had to work on developments for the military, and in 1947 he turned to biology at the Strangeways Research Laboratory, University of Cambridge. In 1949 he moved to the University Medical Research Council at Cavendish Laboratories. Using X-ray diffraction studies of DNA by biophysicist Maurice Wilkins (1916-2004) and X-ray diffraction images taken by Rosalind Franklin, biophysicist James Watson and Crick were able to construct a molecular model consistent with the known physical and chemical properties of DNA.
This achievement became a cornerstone of genetics and was regarded as one of the most important discoveries of 20th century biology. In 1962, Francis Crick, along with James Watson and Maurice Wilkins, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for determining the molecular structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the chemical ultimately responsible for the hereditary control of life functions.
From 1977 until the end of his life, Crick served as professor emeritus at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, California, where he conducted research on the neurological basis of consciousness. He also wrote several books. In 1991, Francis Crick received the Order of Merit.
