Who or what exactly is Cupid? How did a mischievous and rather obese infant come to represent love?
Caravaggio
Salome has become a femme fatale, the author of John the Baptist’s death, and a potent erotic symbol. But that was not the original story.
Why did it take over 300 years to solve a compositional problem, and tell such a simple story?
Wonderful paintings of a gruesome story: that of Judith and Holofernes, by Veronese, Caravaggio, Artemisia Gentileschi.
A distinctive presumed self-portrait of this exceptional woman painter, cropped close, from an unusual viewpoint, using chiaroscuro, colour, and the most amazing fabric textures.
Lightness is key to the depiction of materials, textures, edges, and form. Illusions can confound the viewer, and it is vital to map the lightness of your motif to that of your painting.
The Eclectic Light Company 