Paint it Black
Black is one of the most difficult colours to get right in painting. Many artists prefer to use Ivory Black, others swear by Mars Black. For some the deepest black is conveyed by mixing dark blues and reds together, creating …
Art History
William Larkin: The Curtain Master
The work of William Larkin (early 1580s – 1619) stands out from the crowd. Not only because some of his works are huge, but also because of the fantastic depiction of fabrics. His paintings also show the changeover from Tudor …
William Larkin’s Style of Painting and the End of an Era
Larkin’s Portrait of Diana CecilThe huge portrait of Diana Cecil (1596 – 1654) (it is over 2 meters tall) is one of 9 that are attributed to William Larkin (1580s-1619) and that belong to the Suffolk Collection. They now hang in …
William Larkin’s Style of Painting and the End of an Era Read More »
Prized Possessions from the National Trust at the Holburne in Bath
In the 17th century the Brits were mad about the Dutch. In this eventful century (to put it mildly) there were no less than 3 wars between The Netherlands and Great Britain. At the same time it was a century …
Prized Possessions from the National Trust at the Holburne in Bath Read More »
Robert Peake & Charles I
Robert Peake the Elder (c. 1551–1619) was a fascinating painter who worked during the transition of Tudor (Elizabeth I) and Jacobean (James I) reigns. He was born in Lincolnshire in or around 1551 and was trained as a gold smith. …
10 Fun Art Memes
This post was written by Emma Welsh from Invaluable, an online art auction site with a lively blog. I really enjoyed their art memes and thought I’d share them with you. Hope you get a chuckle out of them! Leonardo da …
17th Century Dress: A Speaking Fashion
Dress in 16th and 17th century portraiture was loaded with meaning. Elizabeth I’s portraits, which functioned as one of the most important means of propaganda for her reign as well as a treasure chest of symbolic imagery, are well-known. Her …
Bitesize Blog: Van der Helst
Click to enlargeBartholomeus van der Helst, Portrait of Abraham del Court and His Wife Maria de Kaersgieter, oil on canvas, 172cm x 146,5cm, 1654. Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, RotterdamBartholomeus van der HelstPortrait of Abraham del Court and His Wife Maria …
Dogs in Dutch Genre Painting
Dutch 17th century art is full of dogs. The highly popular (then and now) and numerous genre paintings feature our furry friends so often, they seem part of the furniture. Not only were dogs useful, loved and popular companions, they …
Bitesize Blog: Judith Leyster
Judith Leyster, Self Portrait, oil on canvas, 74.6×65.1cm, c. 1630. National Gallery of Art, WashingtonJudith LeysterSelf PortraitOil on canvas, 74.6 x 65.1 cm, c. 1630 One of the most well known female painters from the Dutch Golden Age, Judith Leyster (1609-1660) …