Il martirio di San Sebastiano (c.1460)

Donatello (1386-1466) Il martirio di San Sebastiano (The martyrdom of Saint Sebastian) c.1460 Bronze, 26 x 24 cm Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris This bronze plaquette was already famous when it entered the Edouard André Collection. A masterpiece by the sculptor Donatello, the perspective…

Portrait of a Judge (c.1620)

Van Dyck, Anthony (1599-1641) Portrait of a Judge c.1620 Oil on canvas, 117 x 98 cm Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris With its two influences—that of the Antwerp tradition complemented by the Venetian influence—this splendid portrait of a magistrate could only have been executed…

Portico veneziano (c.1760)

Guardi, Francesco (1712-1793) Portico veneziano (Venetian portico / Imaginary Portico) c.1760 Gouache on paper, 53 x 39 cm Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris The picture combines realism and fantasy, using a technique that was quite unusual for Guardi: gouache on paper, which gives the…

La Toilette de Vénus (1738)

Boucher, François (1703-1770) La Toilette de Vénus (The Toilette of Venus) 1738 Oil on canvas, 96 x 143 cm Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris Companion: Boucher, François (1703-1770) Le Sommeil de Vénus 1738 Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris     The Toilette of Venus and Sleeping Venus Initially…

Le Sommeil de Vénus (1738)

Boucher, François (1703-1770) Le Sommeil de Vénus (Sleeping Venus) 1738 Oil on canvas, 96 x 143 cm Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris Companion: Boucher, François (1703-1770) La Toilette de Vénus 1738 Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris     The Toilette of Venus and Sleeping Venus Initially intended to…

Les débuts du modèle (c.1770)

Fragonard, Jean-Honoré (1732-1806) Les débuts du modèle (The New model) c.1770 Oil on canvas, 50 x 63 cm Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris Baron Portalis, one of the artist’s greatest connoisseurs, underlined the artist’s brilliant execution: ‘Imagine everything of the fairest, pinkest, and lightest…

Madonna in trono col Bambino (1510)

Bellini, Giovanni (c.1430-1516) Madonna in trono col Bambino (Madonna Enthroned with Child) 1510 Oil on wood panel, 131 x 103 cm Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris The composition is highly structured and the various planes create a sense of depth. The Virgin is seated…

Madonna col Bambino (c.1470)

Perugino (c.1446-1523) Madonna col Bambino (Madonna and Child) c.1470 Oil on wood, 61 x 41 cm Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris The position of the infant Jesus in the work by Perugino is similar to that in the painting by Botticelli. This is explained…

San Giorgio e il drago (1430-1435)

Uccello, Paolo (1397-1475) San Giorgio e il drago (Saint George and the Dragon) 1430–1435 Oil on wood panel, 131 x 103 cm Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris The painting on wood by Paolo Uccello represents Saint George running the dragon through with his lance,…

Paysage avec Polyphème (1649)

Poussin, Nicolas (1594-1665) Paysage avec Polyphème (Landscape with Polyphemus) 1649 Oil on canvas, 148.5 x 197.5 cm Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg Set into a Classical landscape are figures taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses (13: 750-897). The one-eyed Cyclope Polyphemus fell in love with…