Aesculapius, Psyche, the Esquiline Venus, views in Roman villas, Queen Sheba visiting King Solomon, storm nymphs, and a lascivious dance.
Aestheticism
First Slade Professor, Principal of what became the Royal College of Art, Director of the National Gallery, and President of the Royal Academy, yet now forgotten.
When he returned to London from Italy in 1921, he became increasingly distressed with the advent of modernism, and died the following year, a century ago today.
He died a century ago, perhaps the last painter to paint art for art’s sake, avoiding narrative or meaning. Paintings from the first half of his career.
Two specialists in the sub-genre, John Godward and John Singer Sargent, show us how to chill out in their paintings.
The enjoyment of being idle, indulgence of relaxation, and blissful laziness: that’s dolce far niente for you, in paintings to chill out with.
Named after the artist and poet, he was precious, and went on to be a very successful portraitist. Here some of his narrative and other works.
A protégé of Frederic, Lord Leighton, he joined Dickens’ circle and in 1874 married Kate, Dickens’ youngest daughter.
One famous painting of Hypatia, based on Queen Victoria’s favourite novel, and a handful of others – a fascinating glimpse of a promising artist.
Music and musicians have been very popular themes for paintings since before the Renaissance. How successful are they in evoking our auditory imaginations?
The Eclectic Light Company 