Alexandre Cabanel - The Birth of Venus - 1863 “This Venus hovers somewhere between an ancient deity and a modern dream; the ambiguity of her eyes, that seem to be closed but that at a close look reveals that she is awake… a nude who could be asleep or awake is specially formidable for a male viewer.” - Robert Rosenblum, art historian and curator

Alexandre Cabanel - The Birth of Venus - 1863

“This Venus hovers somewhere between an ancient deity and a modern dream; the ambiguity of her eyes, that seem to be closed but that at a close look reveals that she is awake… a nude who could be asleep or awake is specially formidable for a male viewer.” - Robert Rosenblum, art historian and curator

Alexandre Cabanel - Self Portrait - 1852 French painter, known very well for his fine portraiture and academic style.First exhibited at the Paris Salon at the age of 19.Napoleon III’s preferred painter - Napoleon III actually ended up purchasing Cabanel’s most famous piece, The Birth of Venus. 

Alexandre Cabanel - Self Portrait - 1852

French painter, known very well for his fine portraiture and academic style.
First exhibited at the Paris Salon at the age of 19.
Napoleon III’s preferred painter - Napoleon III actually ended up purchasing Cabanel’s most famous piece, The Birth of Venus. 

Art History Daily.

More like “Art History Once Every Six Months.” :/

Espérances by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, 1885. via bonjourtableau

Espérances by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, 1885.

via bonjourtableau

Silver Favourites by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, 1903 Silver Favourites is an outstanding example of Tadema’s contrasting gleaming white marble against a backdrop of dazzling blue Mediterranean sea. The artist obliterated the middle-ground, and the foreground is abruptly juxtaposed with the distant horizon, creating a dramatic effect. Oil on wood.

Silver Favourites by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, 1903

Silver Favourites is an outstanding example of Tadema’s contrasting gleaming white marble against a backdrop of dazzling blue Mediterranean sea. The artist obliterated the middle-ground, and the foreground is abruptly juxtaposed with the distant horizon, creating a dramatic effect.

Oil on wood.

Dream of Spring by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1901

Dream of Spring by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1901

Self-portrait in a Straw Hat by Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-Lebru, 1782. Vigée-Lebru is recognized as the most famous woman painter of the eighteenth century, and was a part of the Rococco and Neoclassical movements. She worked as Marie Antoinette’s portraitist for six years. The National Gallery, London

Self-portrait in a Straw Hat by Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-Lebru, 1782.

Vigée-Lebru is recognized as the most famous woman painter of the eighteenth century, and was a part of the Rococco and Neoclassical movements. She worked as Marie Antoinette’s portraitist for six years.

The National Gallery, London

Boy with a Top by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, 1735 In 1757, Chardin was granted a studio and living quarters in the Louvre by Louis XV.

Boy with a Top by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, 1735

In 1757, Chardin was granted a studio and living quarters in the Louvre by Louis XV.

Dante and Virgil in Hell by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1850. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Dante and Virgil in Hell by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1850.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Theo van Gogh (art dealer)