Inventors France
Vladimir Davidovich Baranov-Rossine (Russian: Владимир Давидович Баранов-Россине) was a master of the Russian avant-garde, a prolific painter, sculptor, and inventor, whose work significantly contributed to the Cubo-Futurism movement. Born on January 1, 1888, in Kherson, he was originally named Shulim Wolf Leib Baranov but is best known by his pseudonym, Daniel Rossine. His early artistic education took place in Odessa and then at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, laying the groundwork for his future as a revolutionary artist.
In 1910, Baranov-Rossine moved to Paris, a pivotal move that introduced him to the burgeoning European avant-garde scene. It was there, alongside other notable artists such as Marc Chagall, Osip Zadkine, Alexander Archipenko, and Chaim Soutine, that he became an inhabitant of the famous Parisian house "La Ruche." His innovative work, particularly the invention of the Optophonic Piano, which projected colors in sync with music, underscored his commitment to blending art and technology, a hallmark of his career.
Tragically, Baranov-Rossine's life was cut short when he was arrested by the Gestapo in 1943 and subsequently died in Auschwitz in 1944. Despite his untimely death, his legacy lives on through his contributions to modern art and technology. His works can be found in various museums and galleries, celebrated for their vibrant expression and avant-garde techniques that continue to inspire artists and collectors alike.
For those intrigued by Vladimir Davidovich Baranov-Rossine's pioneering work and its lasting impact on the art world, signing up for updates on new product sales and auction events related to this avant-garde master is highly recommended. This ensures enthusiasts and collectors are always informed about the latest opportunities to engage with Baranov-Rossine's remarkable legacy.
Louis Carrogis, better known as Carmontelle was a French artist, garden designer, architect, playwright and inventor.
Carmontelle was of simple origins but versatilely gifted. He wrote several plays and three novels, and created portraits of historical figures. He became famous for his painting of little Mozart at the clavier. In the service of Louis-Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, he was responsible for the theatrical performances for the family as stage designer and stage director.
Carmontelle is the planner and designer of one of the earliest examples of a French landscape garden in Paris, now known as Parc Monceau. In designing the garden, Carmontel rejected many of the fashionable trends in landscape design at the time, drawing inspiration from Japanese pleasure gardens and insisting on incorporating illusion and fantasy.
Carmontelle is also credited as the inventor of animated images. Translucent tape with landscapes depicted on it was slowly rolled from one roll to another against a backdrop of daylight, thus creating the illusion of walking through a garden.
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.
Marin le Bourgeoys was a distinguished French artist and inventor, renowned for his creation of the flintlock mechanism that revolutionized firearms for over two centuries. Born into an esteemed artisan family in Lisieux, Normandy, le Bourgeoys was initially trained as a painter, later gaining acclaim as a gunsmith, inventor, and luthier.
His talents soon caught the eye of royalty; in 1598, King Henry IV appointed him "Valet de Chambre" at the Royal Court, a testament to his esteemed position in the realms of art and innovation. Le Bourgeoys' ingenuity extended beyond the court; his flintlock mechanism, invented in the early seventeenth century, was a pivotal development in firearm technology. This mechanism featured a striking device that, when the trigger was pulled, would hit a firing pin to ignite the primer in the gun cartridge, a design so advanced that it remained in use for over two centuries.
As an artist, le Bourgeoys' work was not limited to the functional; he was also a creator of luxury items, a clock-maker, and embodied the spirit of an educated Renaissance humanist thriving in cultivated circles. His legacy in the art world is marked by works such as the portrait of Henri IV, which was recently acquired by the Musée de l'Armée, signifying the lasting appreciation of his artistic prowess.
For collectors, auctioneers, and experts in art and antiques, Marin le Bourgeoys' contributions to both art and firearm technology present a rich tapestry of historical and cultural significance. To stay informed on updates and discoveries related to Marin le Bourgeoys, sign up for our exclusive newsletter.
Agostino Ramelli was an Italian military engineer and mechanic who worked in the fields of fortification and practical mechanics.
Ramelli studied mathematics, mechanics, and engineering under Giacomo di Marignano, who is considered a disciple of Leonardo da Vinci. He first showed his talents as a mechanic during Louis XIII's military campaign by constructing a mine under a bastion.
Ramelli invented many mechanisms that impressed his contemporaries, including their special aesthetic appeal. His most popular creation is the so-called Ramelli Book Wheel, a rotating reading table. Agostino Ramelli positioned his invention as a sleek design that allowed access to several books without having to get up from his seat.
Ramelli wrote and illustrated a book of engineering projects, Le various et artificiose machine ("Various and Artificial Machines"). The book contains 195 designs, over 100 of which are water-lifting machines, such as water pumps or wells, as well as bridges, mills, and so on. This very interesting book for our contemporaries is still published and is still in demand.
