He was remarkably successful, a truly self-made artist, who rose from nothing to international renown. But did he ‘occasion a revolution in the art’?
Reynolds
West turns to a series of more classical mythological stories for his paintings between 1792 and 1802. These include Shakespeare, the Bible, and the first novel.
Far from continuing to paint ‘modern history’, he embarked on major projects for religious paintings, some of which are superb.
The painting by which West is best known, it was claimed to have started a revolution in art, and to be the first modern history painting. Is there any truth?
From very humble beginnings in the British colonies in America, he rose to become a leading history painter, friend and painter to the King, and President of the Royal Academy. How?
How a maidservant brings a protracted labour to a successful conclusion, the origin of the Milky Way, and an infant who strangles serpents for fun.
Who or what exactly is Cupid? How did a mischievous and rather obese infant come to represent love?
A life spent largely in poverty, working intensely, and creating some of the most innovative and visionary paintings of any artist before or since.
Two triple portraits of ladies of the nobility, which alluded to two quite racy paintings of drunken feasts, and a goddess with 8 breasts. What is going on?
How Sargent’s portrait of a young New York bride turned into a provocative account of The New Woman.
