Joseph-Nicolas taught his son Tony, who like his father was an academic history painter with a taste for human disasters. He also taught at the Académie Julian in Paris.
history
Is it just a quirky re-telling of the myth of Arachne and her weaving contest? What do the foreground and background have in common? A superb visual riddle, perhaps.
A sibyl, or an allegory of painting? Maybe the ‘maid of Corinth’ who legends says ‘invented’ painting. And are they spinners, or the story of Arachne?
Three religious paintings, including two skilfully-told narratives, a history, and the only nude of his to have survived.
Tasso’s narrative is as complex and interwoven as these six leading characters, from the pious Godfrey to the scheming sorceress Armida.
Twenty cantos summarised with the very best of their paintings by Delacroix, Teniers the Younger, Domenico Tintoretto, Poussin, Tiepolo, and others.
Time for a long weekend in the warmth of Granada, Spain. Here’s some history of the palaces of the Alhambra in paintings by Regnault and others.
The last challenge to the delivery of Jerusalem is the attack of the massed army of the Egyptians. It brings Armida’s reconciliation with Rinaldo, and more fine paintings.
With an army from Egypt on its way, the crusaders have no time to lose. Rinaldo removes the spells preventing them from cutting timber, and they are soon assaulting the city of Jerusalem.
Rinaldo recovers his senses, and feels ashamed. He rushes off to rejoin the crusaders, but Armida pleads with him to stay. When he refuses, she seeks vengeance.
