To commemorate the centenary of his death, some of the best portraits of the 19th century, and more.
Rubens
Not an easy story to paint, Ovid’s clear account has been largely ignored. Because it is now too absurd to show?
Greek painted pots, a pair of gold earrings, and a rude quiver: how they led a beer advertisement into danger.
Some stories sound plausible, but are problematic when you try to paint or photograph them. Here’s a good example, with attempted solutions by Reni, Rubens, Moreau, and others.
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?
A summary chronology of the major milestones in the history of oil painting, with copious illustrations from the masters.
His later paintings in particular were the first major works to exploit the visual effects produced by surface texture. How?
Rubens’ methods were extensively documented by a contemporary. Do they reveal or conceal any dark secrets?
A selection of the better paintings from Tissot’s 350+ on the life of Christ, and his unfinished series of Old Testament stories.
A simple story with an obvious climax to be shown. But getting the composition right proves a test even for the Masters.
The Eclectic Light Company 