Van Eyck, Jan (c.1390-1441) Madonna in the Church c.1437–1440 Oil on oak panel, 31.1 x 13.9 cm Gemäldegalerie, Berlin The Madonna in the Church is one of the most beautiful and precious works of art created by Jan van Eyck. Copies…
Van Eyck, Jan (c.1390-1441) The Annunciation c.1434–1436 Oil on canvas transferred from panel, 90.2 x 34.1 cm National Gallery of Art, Washington The Annunciation described by Saint Luke is interpreted in terms of actuality in this painting, which was probably once…
Bruegel the Elder, Pieter (c.1525-1569) The Peasant Wedding c.1568 Oil on oak, 113 × 164 × 3.2 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna The apparent “snapshot” of this picture is in fact carefully composed. Dispensing with allegorical meaning the painting is a realistic…
Bernini, Gian Lorenzo (1598-1680) Il Ratto di Proserpina (The Rape of Proserpina) 1621–1622 Marble, 255 cm Galleria Borghese, Roma The work portrays the abduction of Proserpine by Pluto, god of the underworld. Narrated by both Claudian and Ovid, the myth tells…
Caravaggio (1571-1610) Ecce Homo c.1605 Oil on canvas, 128 x 103 cm Palazzo Bianco, Genova The canvas, the origin of which is still unclear, was recorded in the inventory of Palazzo Bianco in 1921 as being a copy by Lionello Spada of…
Bouguereau, William-Adolphe (1825-1905) Le jour des morts (All Saints’ Day) 1859 Oil on canvas, 147 x 120 cm Musée des Beaux-Arts, Bordeaux William Bouguereau presented at the Salon of 1859 Wounded Love, The Portrait of Madame Duret, painted in 1857, as well…
Caravaggio (1571-1610) Incoronazione di spine (Crowning of Thorns) c.1603 Oil on canvas, 127 x 165.5 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna After interrogation by Pontius Pilate, Christ is made to wear a crown of thorns by the soldiers. He is thus mocked as King…
Caravaggio (1571-1610) Amor Vincit Omnia (Love Conquers All / Cupid as Victor) 1601–1602 Oil on canvas, 156.5 x 113.3 cm Gemäldegalerie, Berlin Around 1592/93, Caravaggio came to Rome from Lombardy, bringing with him formative impressions of the works of Savoldo, Lotto, Romanino…
Montañés y Pérez, Bernardino (1825-1893) Fernando el Católico c.1848 Oil on canvas, 225 x 141 cm Museo del Prado, Madrid Ferdinand II of Aragon, called the Catholic (1452-1516). The Chronological Series of the Kings of Spain was a museum project planned…