Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Cats by Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)



Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French Impressionist Painter, 1841-1919) The Boy with a Cat (détail)


Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French Impressionist Painter, 1841-1919) Sleeping Cat1862


Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French Impressionist Painter, 1841-1919) Geraniums and Cats 1881


Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French Impressionist Painter, 1841-1919) Woman with a Cat


Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French Impressionist Painter, 1841-1919) Julie Manet with Cat


Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French Impressionist Painter, 1841-1919) A Girl and a Cat


Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French Impressionist Painter, 1841-1919) Sleeping Girl with Cat

Monday, March 3, 2014

1600s Women reading & writing letters - no email, no texting...


Gerard Terborch (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1617-1681) Woman Writing a Letter 1655 detail

Communicating was not that easy in the 17th century. Writers would pour out their hearts in a letter; hope to keep secret plans & tender emotions private; hand the letter over to a hopefully trustworthy messenger for dispatch; & attempt to wait patiently for a reply.


Gerard Terborch (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1617-1681) The Letter 1655 detail


Gerard Terborch (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1617-1681) Curiosity detail 


Gerard Terborch (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1617-1681) Messenger with Letter


Gerard Terborch (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1617-1681) Lady Reading a Letter


Gerard Terborch (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1617-1681) The Message


Gerard Terborch (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1617-1681) A Lady Reading a Letter. c 1662 detail


Gerard Terborch (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1617-1681) Woman Reading a Letter detail


Gerard Terborch (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1617-1681) Young Woman in Peasant Costume After Reading a Letter


Gabriel Metsu (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1629-1667) Lady Writing at Her Desk


Gabriel Metsu (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1629-1667) Woman Reading a Letter 1664-66


Gabriel Metsu (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1629-1667) Woman Surprised While Writing a Letter


Johannes Vermeer (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1632-1675) A Lady Writing c 1665


Johannes Vermeer (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1632-1675) Mistress Writing and Maid


Johannes Vermeer (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1632-1675) Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window 1657 detail


Johannes Vermeer (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1632-1675) Woman in Blue Reading a Letter 1657


Johannes Vermeer (Dutch Baroque Era Painter, 1632-1675) Lady Writing a Letter with Her Maid c.1670 detail


Frans Van Mieris the Elder (Dutch painter, 1635-1681) Woman Writing a Letter 1680 detail


Thursday, February 27, 2014

Intriguing still lifes by Jan van Kessel (Flemish painter, 1626-1679)



Jan van Kessel the Elder (Flemish painter, 1626-1679) A Cockchafer Beetle, and Woodlice --other Insects, with a Sprig of Auricula, c. 1650s


Jan van Kessel the Elder (Flemish painter, 1626-1679) Insects


Jan van Kessel the Elder (Flemish painter, 1626-1679) and Fruit Insects, c. 1656-1679


Tuesday, February 25, 2014

1600s Merry Company Indoors


1614 Willem Pieterszoon Buytewech (Dutch Golden Age artist, 1592–1624) Merry Company



1615 Adam Willaerts (Dutch artist, 1577-1664) Merry Company



1615 Willem Pieterszoon Buytewech (Dutch Golden Age artist, 1592–1624) Froliche Gesellschaft



1616 Frans Hals (Dutch artist, 1583–1666) Merry Makers at Mardi Gras



1616 Willem Pieterszoon Buytewech (Dutch Golden Age artist, 1592–1624) Merry Company



c 1615 Willem Pieterszoon Buytewech (Dutch Golden Age artist, 1592–1624) Merry Company



Dirck Hals (Dutch Baroque Era painter, 1591-1656) Celebration



Dirck Hals (Dutch Baroque Era painter, 1591-1656) An Elegant group playing music Detail



Dirck Hals (Dutch Baroque Era painter, 1591-1656) Merry Company at the Table



Dirck Hals (Dutch Baroque Era painter, 1591-1656) The Happy Company



Dirck Hals (Dutch Baroque Era painter, 1591-1656) The Party Table


Sunday, February 23, 2014

Photos-1840s-1850s-Nearly Arcane Trades


One of the most enlightening inventions of the 19th century was photography. This inexpensive method of making portraits allowed us to see all levels of people in society, rather than just the wealthy who could afford to have paintings of their families.

Locksmith


Blacksmith


Furniture Maker


Surveyor


Coachman


Cooper


Stonemason


Watchmaker


Carpenters


Butcher


Blacksmith


Butcher


Chimneysweep


Miners

Peddlar

Railroad Designer


Scene Painter


Shoemaker

Sign Painter


Teamsters


Toleware Painter



Blacksmith



Butcher



Carpenter holding a mallet and chisel



Carriage Driver with buggy whip



Cook



Daguerreotypist



Fisherman



Indiana Survey Crew



Merchant marine sailor



Miner with pick and shovel



Mule Train Driver with his whip



Musician



Plasterers 1850



Scientist or Pharmacist



Shoe model maker



Watchmaker