picture as a present
Ralf Winkler, alias A. R. Penck, was a German painter, printmaker, sculptor, and jazz drummer. A neo-expressionist, he became known for his visual style, reminiscent of the influence of primitive art.
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.
Gustave Moreau was a French artist and an important figure in the Symbolist movement. Jean Cassou called him "the Symbolist painter par excellence". He was an influential forerunner of symbolism in the visual arts in the 1860s, and at the height of the symbolist movement in the 1890s, he was among the most significant painters.
Maria Anna Angelica Kauffmann was a Swiss Neoclassical painter who had a successful career in London and Rome. Remembered primarily as a history painter, Kauffmann was a skilled portraitist, landscape and decoration painter. She was, along with Mary Moser, one of two female painters among the founding members of the Royal Academy in London in 1768.
William Scott was a Northern Irish artist, known for still-life and abstract painting. He is the most internationally celebrated of 20th-century Ulster painters.
Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson, baptized Norma Jeane Baker, is an American actress, singer and model.
Norma spent almost all of her childhood in foster homes and orphanages, and did not even graduate from high school. In 1945, at a military aircraft factory where she worked as a dyer, she was taking pictures of female employees for propaganda posters, which encouraged her to pursue a modeling career. Norma began appearing in commercials and men's magazines, and in 1946 contracted with Twentieth Century Fox movie studio as an extra. Then she also took the creative pseudonym Marilyn Monroe, combining the name of actress Marilyn Miller and her mother's maiden name.
She starred in small roles and studied acting. Marilyn Monroe got her first major role in the musical "The Lady of the Corps" (1948, directed by Phil Carlson), beginning to create her image of a charming blonde. The movie "Niagara" (1953) brought her fame as a sex symbol of Hollywood, and filmed in the same year the movie "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," where she played the lead role, turned a spectacular beauty in the world star. In 1955, the actress created her own film company Marilyn Monroe Productions. And in 1959, the rental came Billy Wilder comedy "In Jazz Only Girls", later entered the classics of world cinema and received several awards, including "Oscar".
Throughout her career, the actress performed about 30 roles in various films. Her last work was the role of a female photographer in the unfinished movie George Cukor "Something Must Happen" (1962). On August 5, 1962, the actress was found dead in her home in Los Angeles, the official cause of death was given as an overdose of sleeping pills. She was only 36 years old.
Marilyn Monroe is a three-time Golden Globe Award winner. Her life is devoted to hundreds of books and documentaries, and created by her image of spectacular and sexy, but naive blonde is still popular in art, fashion and advertising. However, behind this brilliant screen image hid a sensitive and intelligent personality. Few people know that Marilyn loved to read and collected a rich library.
Joseph Mallord William Turner, a seminal figure in British painting, was born in 1775 and left an indelible mark on the Romantic movement. Known for his expressive coloration, imaginative landscapes, and turbulent marine paintings, Turner's work transcends the traditional boundaries of art to capture the sublime force of nature. His career was distinguished by early talent, evidenced by his acceptance into the Royal Academy at the young age of 14, and a prolific output that included over 2,000 paintings and 19,000 drawings and sketches.
William Turner's unique approach to landscape painting, characterized by dramatic skies and atmospheric effects, set a new standard for capturing mood and emotion on canvas. His innovative use of light and color influenced countless artists, elevating landscape painting to rival the status of history painting. Turner's legacy is also marked by his eccentricity and reclusiveness, traits that only added to the mystique surrounding his artistic genius.
Among his most famous works are "The Fighting Temeraire," symbolizing the passing of the old world, and "Rain, Steam and Speed," capturing the Industrial Revolution's impact. These paintings not only showcase William Turner's technical skill but also his philosophical engagement with the changing world around him.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, William Turner's works represent the pinnacle of Romantic art, offering insight into the 19th-century aesthetic and philosophical landscape. His influence on subsequent generations of artists underscores his position as a pivotal figure in the history of Western art.
To stay informed about Joseph Mallord William Turner's works and related events, signing up for updates from reputable art institutions can provide valuable insights into new discoveries and auction events related to this master of the British landscape.
Michael Faraday was a British physicist and chemist, explorer and experimenter.
Faraday, because of his family's poverty, was unable to receive a formal education, but at the bookbinding shop in London where he worked, he read many books, including encyclopedias and textbooks on chemistry and physics. He persevered in self-education, attending hearings at the City Philosophical Society and later lectures by Sir Humphry Davy at the Royal Institution, who as a result took the able student on as an apprentice. In 1825 he replaced the seriously ill Davy in the management of the laboratory of the Royal Institution.
In 1833 Faraday was appointed to a research chair of chemistry created especially for him, where, among other achievements, the scientist liquefied various gases, including chlorine and carbon dioxide. His study of heating and lighting oils led to the discovery of benzene and other hydrocarbons, and he experimented extensively with various steel alloys and optical glasses. Faraday was an excellent experimentalist who presented his ideas in simple language. He is best known for his contributions to the understanding of electricity and electrochemistry. The concepts behind electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism, and electrolysis were some of his most important discoveries. His electromagnetic research formed the basis of the electromagnetic equations that James Clerk Maxwell developed in the 1850s and 1860s.
Between 1831 and 1855, Faraday read a series of 30 papers before the Royal Society, which were published in his three-volume Experimental Investigations in Electricity. His bibliography numbers some 500 printed articles. By 1844 he had been elected a member of some 70 scientific societies, including the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.
Sir Joshua Reynolds was an English painter, specialising in portraits. John Russell said he was one of the major European painters of the 18th century. He promoted the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was a founder and first president of the Royal Academy of Arts, and was knighted by George III in 1769.
Edward John Poynter was a prominent British painter, known for his historical and mythological artworks that resonate with art collectors and experts. Born in Paris and educated in Britain, Poynter's career flourished with his detailed and evocative paintings, like "Israel in Egypt" and "The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon," which reflect his profound historical knowledge and artistic skill. These works are celebrated for their intricate detail and vibrant storytelling, captivating viewers and holding significant positions in galleries and Masonic lodges globally.
Edward John Poynter's dedication to art education was evident through his roles as the Slade Professor at University College London and the principal of the National Art Training School. His contribution extended to administrative roles, notably as the Director of the National Gallery, where he played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Tate Gallery. His legacy in the art world is also marked by his presidency at the Royal Academy, demonstrating his influence and standing in the British art scene.
For those intrigued by Edward John Poynter's mastery and the historical depth of his work, his contributions to art literature, such as "Ten Lectures on Art," offer further insight into his artistic philosophy and approach. These works underscore his commitment to integrating art and archaeology, providing a richer understanding of his creative process and the era he depicted.
For art collectors and enthusiasts interested in Poynter's work and related auction events, staying updated through a subscription service can be invaluable. This ensures you receive timely information on sales and exhibitions featuring Edward John Poynter's art, allowing you to engage deeply with his historical and artistic legacy.
Dame Laura Knight was an English artist who worked in oils, watercolours, etching, engraving and drypoint. Knight was a painter in the figurative, realist tradition, who embraced English Impressionism. In her long career, Knight was among the most successful and popular painters in Britain. Her success in the male-dominated British art establishment paved the way for greater status and recognition for women artists.
In 1929 she was created a Dame, and in 1936 became the second woman elected to full membership of the Royal Academy. Her large retrospective exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1965 was the first for a woman. Knight was known for painting amidst the world of the theatre and ballet in London, and for being a war artist during the Second World War. She was also greatly interested in, and inspired by, marginalised communities and individuals, including Romani people and circus performers.
David Roberts was a Scottish painter and a member of the Royal Academy.
Since 1819, David Roberts worked as a scenographer in various theaters, where his creative potential was appreciated. Inspired by the positive feedback, some time later he seriously engaged in painting. After the first exhibition of works, held in 1824, the artist went on a trip. He visited several countries in Europe, where he created many drawings. In 1833, David Roberts continued to explore the world: he went to Spain, where he spent almost a year, also had time to visit Morocco, lived in Cairo for a long time and made sketches everywhere. Subsequently, his works were published in various magazines, and the author gained fame as a talented illustrator. In 1841, the artist became a member of the Royal Academy.
In the 1840s, an album with his works was published, thanks to these publications, David Roberts became the most famous painter of the Victorian era. The artist also skillfully depicted monuments of architecture. David Roberts' paintings are striking in their photographic accuracy, and he is still considered one of the best architectural painters in his homeland.
