Another huge human panorama which captured the spirit of the age, set in Paddington Railway Station. Not his last, though.
Frith
Physiognomy originated in ancient Greece, but was codified by Lavater in 1772; phrenology followed from 1796, and together they attracted many painters.
This quintessentially Victorian artist painted a richly narrative scene full of stories and visual anecdotes, so typical of the era.
How many verbal stories or movies tell dozens of different stories? Here are paintings that are not only so rich in narrative, but tell all those stories at the same time.
From West and Frith’s early paintings of the beach at Ramsgate, through their increasing popularity in the 19th century, to Boudin, Monet and Renoir.
It’s unusual and difficult to make humorous paintings. Here’s a fine selection from Bosch, Brueghel and Rubens to the late 19th century.
In the 1870s, Manet and Monet introduced steam trains to the world of art. At the Salon, they were met with ridicule, but became an important theme in Impressionism.
How two people changed the history of painting in the twentieth century, and destroyed John Singer Sargent’s reputation.
Ever noticed how stern everyone looks in paintings? Here are some exceptions from Frans Hals, Murillo, Vermeer and others.
Some personal, even intimate wedding paintings, from Rubens, Hans Gude, William Frith, and two Naturalists. And they all lived happily ever after.
The Eclectic Light Company 