Wineglasses (1875)

Sargent, John Singer (1856-1925) Wineglasses probably 1875 Oil on canvas, 45 × 37.5 cm National Gallery, London This small painting of a shaded arbour could be set in a cafe or restaurant, but it may be a private garden. Dappled sunlight…

Samson and Delilah (c.1609-1610)

Rubens, Peter Paul (1577-1640) Samson and Delilah c.1609–1610 Oil on wood, 185 × 205 cm National Gallery, London Peter Paul Rubens’s Samson and Delilah portrays a tragedy of love and betrayal. According to the Old Testament, Samson, a Jewish hero blessed…

L’été (before 1873)

Puvis de Chavannes, Pierre (1824-1898) L’été (Summer) before 1873 Oil on canvas, 43.2 × 62.2 cm National Gallery, London The theme of Puvis de Chavannes’s painting is an old one. Images of summer and harvesting can be found in medieval illuminated manuscripts,…

Le Triomphe de Silène (c.1636)

Poussin, Nicolas (1594-1665) Le Triomphe de Silène (The Triumph of Silenus) c.1636 Oil on canvas, 142.9 × 120.5 cm National Gallery, London This playful scene celebrates Silenus, companion to Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and drunkenness. Silenus, a naked old…

Autorretrato (c.1670)

Murillo, Bartolomé Esteban (1617-1682) Autorretrato (Self Portrait) c.1670 Oil on canvas, 122 × 107 cm National Gallery, London Murillo probably painted this self portrait in about 1670, when he was in his early fifties – his hairline is receding and his…

Jour d’été (c.1879)

Morisot, Berthe (1841-1895) Jour d’été (Summer’s Day) c.1879 Oil on canvas, 45.7 × 75.2 cm National Gallery, London This painting was almost certainly exhibited with the title The Lake in the Bois de Boulogne at the Fifth Impressionist exhibition in April…

Femme et enfant dans un paysage (1846-1847)

Millet, Jean-François (1814-1875) Femme et enfant dans un paysage (Woman and Child in a Landscape) 1846–1847 Oil on canvas, 45.7 × 38.1 cm National Gallery, London A woman sits on a rocky ledge, her head gracefully turned toward a young naked…

Ophélie parmi les fleurs (c.1905-1908)

Redon, Odilon (1840-1916) Ophélie parmi les fleurs (Ophelia among the Flowers) c.1905–1908 Pastel on paper, 64 × 91 cm National Gallery, London Odilon Redon (1840–1916) frequently made reference to both classic and contemporary literature in his work, and the subject of…