prints 15th - 18th century
Laurent de La Hyre, a prominent French Baroque painter born in Paris in 1606, is celebrated for his mastery in landscape and allegorical paintings. Throughout his career, La Hyre exhibited a profound influence from the Italian artists who visited Paris, studying under Georges Lallemand and drawing inspiration from Primaticcio at Fontainebleau. Despite never traveling to Italy himself, La Hyre’s work was characterized by a captivating use of color and the delicate composition of figures, marking him as a key figure in the transitional period leading up to the French Baroque era introduced by Simon Vouet.
La Hyre’s paintings are notable for their gravity, simplicity, and dignity, qualities that resonated with the neoclassical style of Parisian Atticism he championed. His early works are particularly recognized for their painterly style and storytelling prowess, often depicting subjects rarely seen in his contemporaries' work. One of his most significant contributions was to the Capuchin friars of the Marais, with the painting of Pope Nicholas V discovering the corpse of St. Francis of Assisi, now housed in the Louvre alongside eight other works by La Hyre. Museums in Strasbourg, Rouen, and Le Mans also boast collections of his work, showcasing his broad appeal and the versatility of his subject matter.
In 1648, La Hyre's status in the art world was further cemented by his role as one of the founding members of the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, highlighting his influence and prominence in French art history. Despite his fame, La Hyre’s legacy underwent periods of reevaluation, particularly towards the end of the 17th century when his work received less favorable comparisons to contemporaries like Vouet, Champaigne, and Le Sueur. Nonetheless, his impact on the French Baroque movement and his contribution to the Academy underline the significance of his work and his role in the development of French art.
La Hyre's oeuvre spans a wide range of themes, from mythological and biblical scenes to allegories of the liberal arts, demonstrating his versatility and innovative approach to art. Among his notable works are the allegorical representations of the Seven Liberal Arts, designed as a series and showcasing disciplines like Astronomy, Grammar, and Music as personified figures, reflecting the intellectual and cultural values of his time.
Collectors and experts in art and antiques appreciate La Hyre not only for the aesthetic and historical value of his paintings but also for the insights they provide into the cultural and intellectual currents of 17th-century France. His works, preserved in prestigious museums and galleries, continue to be celebrated for their artistic merit and historical significance.
For those keen on exploring the rich tapestry of Baroque art and the contributions of Laurent de La Hyre to this period, signing up for updates on new product sales and auction events related to La Hyre is an invaluable opportunity. This subscription ensures that enthusiasts and collectors are well-informed about the latest discoveries and offerings related to this influential artist, without the intrusion of unrelated content.
Hartmann Schedel was a German humanist, medical scientist, historian and chronicler.
Schedel was the first to compile a world chronicle, the so-called Visual History of the Earth from the Creation of the World to the 1490s, known as Schedelsche Weltchronik (Schedel's World Chronicle). It was published in 1493 in Nuremberg. About 600 woodcuts for this book were created by the artists and engravers Michael Wolgemuth (1434-1519) and Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528). The illustrations depict biblical scenes, family trees, portraits of famous personalities, and fairy tale or legendary creatures. However, the main ones here were maps of the world, Germany and Central Europe.
Hartmann Schedel was one of the first cartographers to use machine printing. He was also a renowned collector of books, artworks and engravings by old masters.
Aristotle (Greek: Ἀριστοτέλης) was an Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath, renowned for his profound impact on Western philosophy and science. Born in Stagira, Chalcidice, Aristotle's intellectual ventures spanned a multitude of subjects, including but not limited to physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology.
Educated in Plato's Academy in Athens, Aristotle distinguished himself as a scholar of vast knowledge and influence. His foundational works laid the groundwork for the development of modern science, while his teachings on logic and the syllogistic method continue to resonate in the realm of philosophy. As the tutor of Alexander the Great and the founder of the Lyceum in Athens, Aristotle's legacy extends beyond his prolific writings, with his teachings shaping medieval scholarship and influencing both Judeo-Islamic and Christian theologies.
Among Aristotle's notable works, his treatises such as "Nicomachean Ethics," "Politics," "Metaphysics," and "Poetics" have been studied for centuries. His concept of the "Golden Mean," advocating for a balanced and moderate approach to life, remains a cornerstone of ethical philosophy. His ideas on the "Prime Mover" and empirical evidence as a basis for understanding the world laid the foundation for scientific inquiry. Although only about a third of his original output has survived, Aristotle's contributions continue to be a subject of academic study and admiration.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, the philosophical and scientific principles of Aristotle's works are not just historical artifacts but living ideas that continue to shape our understanding of the world and our place within it. His insights into the "good life" and the pursuit of happiness are as relevant today as they were in ancient Greece.
If you wish to stay informed about new product sales and auction events related to Aristotle, sign up for updates. This subscription is your gateway to the latest scholarly works, collections, and auctions connected to the great philosopher's legacy.
Hartmann Schedel was a German humanist, medical scientist, historian and chronicler.
Schedel was the first to compile a world chronicle, the so-called Visual History of the Earth from the Creation of the World to the 1490s, known as Schedelsche Weltchronik (Schedel's World Chronicle). It was published in 1493 in Nuremberg. About 600 woodcuts for this book were created by the artists and engravers Michael Wolgemuth (1434-1519) and Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528). The illustrations depict biblical scenes, family trees, portraits of famous personalities, and fairy tale or legendary creatures. However, the main ones here were maps of the world, Germany and Central Europe.
Hartmann Schedel was one of the first cartographers to use machine printing. He was also a renowned collector of books, artworks and engravings by old masters.
![[Pedro IV of Aragon (1319-1387)]](/assets/image/picture_3927881/4831f/947e4e5d2212170f44c0f15c745e65e81718056800jpg__fix_374_244.jpeg)
![[Pedro IV of Aragon (1319-1387)]](https://veryimportantlot.com/assets/image/picture_3927881/4831f/947e4e5d2212170f44c0f15c745e65e81718056800jpg__fix_374_244.jpeg)
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.
Paul Troger was an Austrian painter, draughtsman, and printmaker of the late Baroque period. Troger's illusionistic ceiling paintings in fresco are notable for their dramatic vitality of movement and their palette of light colors.
Paul Troger’s style, particularly in his frescoes, dominated Austrian painting until the end of the 18th century and profoundly influenced significant artists of the next generation, notably Franz Anton Maulbertsch, Josef Ignaz Mildorfer, Johann Wenzel Bergl and Johann Lucas Kracker.
Franz Anton Maulbertsch was an Austrian painter of the second half of the 18th century. He is known as a painter and printmaker, master of frescoes and altarpieces in oil.
Maulbertsch became famous for his unique style, characterized by expressiveness and expressiveness. Working in Vienna, Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia and Italy, he was able, according to critics, to overcome the provincialism of the style of the South German and Austrian artists who had preceded him. Rembrandt's influence also made an imprint on his work.
