Born in Scotland, worked much of his career in Rome, he mentored Benjamin West, worked with Piranesi, and bought Leonardo’s Virgin of the Rocks.
West
Cicero and the tomb of Archimedes, a theatre at Taormina, the War of the Sicilian Vespers, Antonello’s oil paintings, and urban poverty.
Cimon and Iphigenia, from Boccaccio’s Decameron, and others from classical tales of taking siestas outdoors.
Sir Joshua Reynolds, leading portrait painter and founding President of the Royal Academy, was born 300 years ago. He was the most influential British artist for over a century.
Tragedy for Agamemnon, who is murdered by his wife, and his son Orestes murdered her (his mother), her lover, their daughter and son.
Throughout the 19th century, as going to the beach became more popular, adults at least only bared essentials, and even covered arms and legs.
In the Roman arena, with a runaway slave, sparing the life of Daniel, at the feet of St Jerome and St Rufina, and snoring gently on the rug.
With Greek defeat imminent, Patroclus dons Achilles’ armour and puts the Trojans to rout. He chases them to the city’s gate, where he’s killed by Hector.
Zeus, disguised as a gander, raped Nemesis, who laid Helen as an egg. She became step-sister of Castor and Polydeuces, and went on to be abducted by Paris as Aphrodite’s bribe.
A summary history from 1700 to the 20th century, with examples of major paintings, and links to each of the detailed articles in this series.