From the earliest still life paintings, many were designed not just to look realistic, but to deceive the viewer. Examples from van Eyck to the 20th century.
Cézanne
Between 1884 and his death in 1890, he painted a great many still lifes, some of which are not only among his most famous, but the most popular in Western art.
A small selection showing how still life painting was an essential part of his art, even more fascinating and enigmatic than his landscapes.
Courbet’s late coastal views and waves, Cézanne’s Post-Impressionism and radical watercolours, Hodler’s sublime view over Lake Geneva, and Signac’s mixed media.
Its peak with Bonington, Friedrich, Corot and others. Decline in Impressionism to deliberate omission in ‘primitives’ such as Cézanne and Astrup.
From Monet’s rhythmic arrays of poplar trees on the banks of the River Epte to Holder’s arrays of figures, more examples of this technique.
Paintings of the sky by Vincent van Gogh, Edvard Munch, Klimt, Cézanne, Schiele, Paul Nash and others.
How two people changed the history of painting in the twentieth century, and destroyed John Singer Sargent’s reputation.
From a pen and ink drawing, to fine sketches in chalk, then into oil paint on canvas, next modelled by a sculptor in clay, and finally into a bronze bas relief.
A short illustrated history of Renoir’s career as a landscape painter, from Barbizon to La Grenouillère, Post-Impressionism and the influence of Corot and Cézanne.
The Eclectic Light Company 