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Fascinating Faces: Giuseppe Arcimboldo

Giuseppe Arcimboldo's "The Librarian" is a favorite of readers Tanner and Sue, who wanted to know a little more about the man who created such an unusual portrait. While most of you are familiar with his work, you probably don't know much about the man himself. So, in honor of the 415th anniversary of his death tomorrow, an Arcimboldo education: 1. While some of Giuseppe Arcimboldo's capricci, or "fancy pieces," are colorful and humorous, others can be... READ ON

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Washington Posed Here: Gilbert Stuart

A few months ago, reader Bob requested a post on Gilbert Stuart (baptized Gilbert Stewart). Since tomorrow is the 180th anniversary of his death and Friday was Independence Day, the time is right to feature this American artist best known for his iconic portraits of George Washington. 1. Although Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) was a patriot, his family were loyalists who fled to Nova Scotia at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. Surprisingly, Stuart headed to England around the same time, in 1775, where... READ ON

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Celebrating American Artists

In honor of tomorrow, I thought it fitting that today we take a look back at the great American artists we've featured on "Feel Art Again." Thomas Eakins depicted Philadelphia landmarks in his first rowing painting, "The Champion Single Sculls" (Max Schmitt in a Single Scull). John Trumbull's "Surrender of Lord Cornwallis" celebrated the end of the Revolutionary War, though not very accurately. Mary Cassatt, who painted "The Child's... READ ON

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Born in the Louvre: Horace Vernet

Recently, I stumbled upon the French artist Horace Vernet (1789-1863), whose 219th birthday was yesterday. Vernet is most known for his highly accurate, large-scale battle scenes, but he also painted several Biblical and Oriental scenes as well. 1. Many artists are born into artistic families, but Horace Vernet's circumstances surpass all others. Not only was his whole family artistic (including both his great-grandfather, his grandfather, his father, his uncle, and his brother-in-law), but he... READ ON

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Chalk It Up To Imagination: Julian Beever

At the request of reader John, today's post features the "Pavement Picasso," a.k.a. Julian Beever. While quite a lot has been written online about the UK artist (including a popular chain e-mail), very little actual information about Beever's life is available. Here's what we do know"¦ 1. Julian Beever got his start on pavement creations while he was attending art school; he would make two-dimensional chalk drawings and receive pennies from passers-by. He began... READ ON

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The Dynamics of Colour: Aristarkh Lentulov

Aristarkh Lentulov (1882-1943) is yet another artist whose work is fascinating and influential, yet about whom very little information is available. His work, however, is too amazing to go without mention in "Feel Art Again," so I've scrounged up what information I can about Lentulov and his 1913 painting "Vasily the Blessed Cathedral." 1. Although Aristarkh Lentulov was not born into a rich or artistic family, he was still able to receive 8 years of art schooling, after... READ ON

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Georgia On My Mind

Since Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986) is one of the most popular American artists, it's no wonder she's also one of the most requested artists on "Feel Art Again," with votes from readers Gillian, nutmeag, Nerak, and AMT. While most of you have seen at least one of her paintings before, there's much you probably don't know about this iconic painter. 1. Georgia O'Keeffe could trace her American roots all the way back to the Mayflower, which one of her... READ ON

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Soaring to New Heights: Constantin Brancusi

As announced last Saturday, "Feel Art Again" is now also a Saturday feature, though our weekend posts are a little different than usual. Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957), requested by reader Hypatia, was a Romanian sculptor whose works were often categorized as abstract"¦ a categorization that Brancusi refuted, with the argument: "The people who call my work "˜abstract' are imbeciles; what they call "˜abstract' is in fact the purest realism..." Decide... READ ON

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Painting His Dreamworld: Sir Edward Burne-Jones

Tuesday was the 110th anniversary of his death, so let's take a look at the life of Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898), the English pre-Raphaelite who often wished that he could have been the contemporary of Botticelli. 1. Attending Exeter College (at Oxford) in 1853, Edward Jones met William Morris and the two instantly became friends, referring to each other as Ned and Topsy. The two remained friends for more than 43 years, until Morris' death. The best friends even brought their... READ ON

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Welcoming Daybreak with Maxfield Parrish

Today, I'm fulfilling another reader request, this time for America's most-reproduced artist, Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966). Readers Hoya, Nerak, Vanessa, and Johnny Cat all asked for "Feel Art Again" coverage of the prolific illustrator whose colorful works are so well-known that there's even a color—Parrish blue—named after him. So, a little more about the man and "Daybreak," his 1922 masterpiece that he referred to as his "great... READ ON