Name the Artist

Recently I stumbled across these paintings.

The young man who created them tried to support his family by selling them, but he wasn’t very successful.   He was turned down twice by The Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna.  The directors told him he was unfit and should study architecture instead.'

He turned to politics instead….

What was his name?

Adolph Hitler, of course.

A Little Advice Is a Good Thing

It’s a good thing Mary Cassatt listened to her good friend Edgar Degas.   

While living and painting in Paris Degas and Cassatt met.   Cassatt was painting subjects that included groups of women drinking tea or on outings with friends.  Degas told his friend to begin to paint mothers with their children.   He told her it had only been done in a religious tone up to that point.   She could build a niche.    Mary Cassatt listened and she became known for her mother/child groupings.  

 

The painting I have here…..A Goodnight Hug is her first work after listening to Degas and it’s unique because the facial features are hidden.

Guernica

Guernica by Pablo Picasso

This painting by Pablo Picasso is his response to the horrific bombing by German and Italian forces during the Spanish Civil War in 1937.      

During the occupation of Paris during World War II Picasso kept a large photo of the painting on his studio wall.   At some point a Nazi officer saw it and said to Picasso, “So….you did that?”

Picasso answer, “No, YOU did that.”

Here's a great PBS page with information about this important work of art.

Famous Art Thefts: Mona Lisa

Vicenzo Peruggia, a former Louve employee actually walked out of the museum with the Mona Lisa under his clothes on August 21, 1911. 

How he removed the painting from its frame with no notice is beyond me. 

Officials questioned all sorts of people including Guillaume Apollinaire, a French poet who had at once time called for the Louvre to be “burnt down.”   He was arrested and then had the audacity to implicate his friend Pablo Picasso…….yes, that one.

Picasso was questioned but allowed to go.

Peruggia was fingered for the crime when he contacted a prominent art dealer in Florence in December, 1913 claiming he had a famous painting for sale. 

He had stolen the Mona Lisa because he wanted the painting returned to Itay – its rightful place in his opinion.

Once retrieved from Peruggia, the painting went on a whirlwind tour of Italy before being returned to the Louvre. 

Many of Peruggia’s Italian countrymen hailed him as a hero.   Back in France he was sentenced to a jail term of six months.

$80 Million???? Now That's a Scream!

Seriously.   This painting – Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” will be auctioned at Sotheby’s soon and experts are estimating the painting may fetch $80 million.

Sotheby’s describes the iconic painting as “one of the most instantly recognizable images in art and popular culture, second only perhaps to Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.”

Most paintings have only one original but Munch painted a few versions….using various forms of media.  The Munch Museum holds one of two painted versions and one pastel.  The National Gallery of Norway holds the other painted version…..and there is also a lithograph.     The version that Sotheby’s will auction is a pastel and is owned currently by Norwegian businessman Petter Olsen, which will be offered at auction in May, 2012.

This painting has been stolen twice.  In both cases it was the versions owned by museums that were stolen.

It has been parodied by “The Simpsons”.

…and the frame holding this version of the 1895 work has a handwritten inscription from the artist…the final line of which reads “I felt the great Scream in Nature.”

Edvard Munch explained the painting this way, “I was walking along a path with two friends – the sun was setting – suddenly the sky turned blood red – I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence – there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city – my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety – and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature.”

50 Art Blogs to Enjoy!

1. Art History Newsletter: Don't fall behind in keeping up with art history's latest happenings– follow this blog and you'll always be in-the-know.

2. ArtsJournal: Whether you love painting, sculpture or performance art, you'll find updates about it here.

3. ArtForum: As one of the leading art publications, every art historian should keep up with this site.

4. CultureGrrl: Lee Rosenbaum blogs for Arts Journal on this site, sharing posts that will help you stay in-the-know when it comes to the art world.

5. Shelley's Art History Blog: This About.com blog is home to art images, articles and information all about artists and art history throughout the ages.

6. ART Histories: If you'd like to learn more about art and get some really insightful commentary, make this blog a daily read.

7. The Earthly Paradise: Here, Margaret, a historian, shares her love of art and aesthetic

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8. Art Blog by Bob: Through this blog, you'll get to hear Bob's commentary on a wide range of art exhibits, artists and more.

9. Art History Today: This UK-based art historian blogs about current research topics and interests– a great read for any other art history students or professors.

10. Art History Salon: Whether you're a lover of art or a professional art historian, you're bound to find something of interest on this blog written by Assistant Professor Heather Jensen.

11.Art History Ramblings: This blogger is currently a Master's student in art history and uses this site to post all kinds of art images, links and articles that other students might find of interest.

12. Alberti's Window: Here you'll find some really great posts on art in pop culture, the history of art and a whole lot more.

13. Baroque Potion: Amateur art historian and software developer David Byron posts commentary and links to interesting events in the art world here.

14. Three Pipe Problem: This intriguing blog delves into some of the greatest mysteries in art, as well as providing explanations of symbolism and meanings behind many others.

15. Looting Matters: On this blog, you'll find discussions on the ethics of collecting antiquities as well as insights into the theft and trade of illegally obtained artifacts.

16. Art Theft Central: This blog will let you follow up on the theft, looting and recovery of artworks the world over.

17. Safe Corner: Learn about many works of cultural heritage that are in danger of being lost, stolen or destroyed on this blog.

18. Archaeology News: Bookmark this blog to keep up with the latest excavations and discoveries in the archaeological world.

19. Kris's Archaeology Blog: From Norway to Mesopotamia, Egypt to South America, this blog explores archaeology all around the world.

20. ArchaeologyOnline: Featuring information on websites, excavations, field schools, books and more, this site is an excellent resource for any art historian interested in archaeology.

21. Bearded Roman: Those who simply can't get enough Classical art should check out the posts on this blog.

22. Ancient Egyptian Art: Learn more about the painting, sculpture and culture of Ancient Egypt from this site.

23. Brooklyn Museum: On this museum blog you'll find information about everything art related from excavations of ancient cities to the latest in modern art.

24. Indianapolis Museum of Art: Learn about new artists and see what exhibits are up and coming at the IMA here.

25. Museum 2.0: This blog is an excellent place to learn more about the museum of the future– one that uses technology as an active part of any exhibit.

26. Walker Art Center Blog: Walker Art Center in Minneapolis maintains this blog, full of interviews, photos and information about up-and-coming artists.

27. Woodson Wanderings: Learn more about Woodson Art Museum staff, exhibits and much more on this blog.

28. Face to Face: This blog lets you get up close and personal with the collections at the National Portrait Museum.

29. The Modern: The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth's blog is an excellent source of information not only on the museum but on new modern artists as well.

30. Museum Strategy: Every museum has to have a strategy to engage visitors, get donations and generally be a great cultural venue. Learn more about how that's done, and the marketing behind it, here.

31. Curator's Corner: Karl Cole, Davis Art Images' curator of images, is an art historian and teacher who really knows his stuff, making this blog an excellent place to learn more about anything curatorial.

32.Curator and Collector: Learn more about museum studies on the Northwest Coast from this blog.

33. Watts Gallery: Watts Gallery's Mark Bills blogs about the curation field and what the gallery is doing on this site.

34. Museum Anthropology: Study up on the anthropology of museums, a complex and interesting subject, through this site manned by two PhDs and curators.

35. Open Objects: You'll be able to take an interesting look at the role technology and digital issues play in any museum on this blog.

36. Museum Studies: If you're thinking of pursuing a career in museum studies, this blog can help you learn what it's all about.

37. Mythical Women: Study women in mythology and paintings of these mythological subjects, through this blog.

38. Art Deco: If your favorite period in art, architecture and the decorative arts was Art Deco, then don't miss this blog.

39. Romantic Ruins: This blog takes a look at the role of ruins as a artistic subject.

40. The Warhol Influence: Warhol fans can read up on everything related to the famous Pop Art sensation here.

41. Pre-Raphaelite Art: This blog focuses on the painting and sculpture created in the years prior to the well-known artists Raphael.

42. Art and Architecture, Mainly: Visit this blog to read more about fine art, decorative art and architecture from the 1640's to the 1940's.

43. The Textile Blog: If textiles are your area of interest in art, you'll find loads to read about them here.

44. Painting History: Get your fix of history painting through the weekly updates to this site.

45. Every Painter Paints Himself: This blog explores the field of self-portraiture, often in a very interesting way.

46. The Art History Blog: Looking for some interesting images and information about art? This blog offers up both.

47. Your Daily Art: Blogger Martha shares a new art image almost every day on this fun site, a great way to learn more about artists with whom you might not be familiar.

48. Art History Attacks: Get your artwork of the day, as well as a short art history lesson, on this site. 

49. Famous Paintings Reviewed: If you're not an expert in art history, this blog posts tons of information that can help you learn and is paired with some pretty pictures to boot.

50. Old Paint: Here you'll find one old painting posted every day.

Surrender of General Burgoyne

John Trumbull painted this wonderful work of art in 1821, and it was placed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in 1826. 

This painting is one of four works of art Trumbull has in the Rotunda.  He planned this painting as am outdoor scene to contrast with  the Signing of the Declaration of Independence which hangs next to it.  Trumbull is an amazing artist considering a childhood accident left him blind in one eye.

Trumbull served in the Patriot army during the American Revolution.   While in Boston he was able to make sketches that proved to be useful to the Patriots of the British works.  He was also a personal aide to Washington and General Gates.

The painting is a portrayal of the British surrender following the Battle of Saratoga on October 17, 1777.

From left to right we see American Captain Seymour of Connecticut, American Colonel Scammel of New Hampshire (in blue), British Major General William Phillips (in red), British Lieutenant General John Burgoyne (in red), American Major General Horatio Gates (in blue), American Colonel Daniel Morgan (in white).

The Battle of Saratoga was a major turning point during the American Revolution.   England was unable to achieve its goal of dividing New England from the rest of the colonies and France was finally persuaded to help the Patriots.

Take a close look at the painting.   General Burgoyne is ready to hand his sword over to General Gates – and act of submission.    Gates, in an effort to show Burgoyne respect refuses to take the sword and offers him refreshment in his tent.

The painting is one that shows peace rather than hostility.

A smaller version of this painting hangs in the collection at the Yale University Art Gallery.