Antonio Mancini | La lacrima, 1883-1890

Dopo un duro ricovero nel manicomio Provinciale di Napoli nel 1881, Antonio Mancini (1852-1930) trovò ospitalità a Roma, presso gli zii Andrea e Noemi, e durante il suo soggiorno in città può dedicarsi alla pittura utilizzando i nipoti come modelli.

In questa tela si vede infatti Agrippina, con lo sguardo delicato e sofferente e gli occhi lucidi inumiditi dalle lacrime.

Proprio questo dettaglio dà il titolo all’opera, e si dice fosse stato un rimprovero del pittore a far scaturire il pianto.

Antonio Mancini | La lacrima, 1883-1890 (detail) | GAM - Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Milano

Pierre-Édouard Frère | Genre painter

Pierre Édouard Frère (1819-1886), was a French genre painter.

Frère studied under Paul Delaroche, entered the École des Beaux-Arts in 1836 and exhibited first at the Salon in 1843.

Among his chief works are the two paintings, Going to School and Coming from School, The Little Glutton (his first exhibited picture) and L'Exercice (in the 19th century this work was in John Jacob Astor's collection).

Johannes Vermeer died on this day, in 1675

Dutch Golden Age painter Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) passed away on this day December 15th, 1675.

He was 43 years old.

Vermeer’s small oeuvre is remarkable.

It is estimated that Vermeer created around 40 to 50 paintings, which is not a big number compared to other master painters of the time.

For example, Rembrandt made around 300 paintings and Frans Hals around 200.

Enoch Wood Perry | A Month’s darning, 1876

In their subject matter and compositional format, Enoch Wood Perry’s watercolor paintings are quite similar to his oils, and his method of applying paint was consistently characterized by fastidious attention to detail.

Like his colleague Eastman Johnson, Enoch Wood Perry (1831-1915) studied in Düsseldorf and Paris, where he acquired a respect for careful draftsmanship.

He exhibited "A Month’s Darning" in 1876 at the American Society of Painters in Water Colors and later the same year at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, where it was acclaimed for its evocation of times past.

The critic for the "New-York Tribune" found the woman’s head to be "the best part" of the composition and only regretted "that the sweet-faced girl . . . should have such large-footed men-folks to darn for". | Source: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Enoch Wood Perry | A Month’s Darning, 1876 | Metropolitan Museum of Art

Eduardo León Garrido | Belle Époque painter

Spanish painter Eduardo León Garrido (1856-1949), was a significant figure in the Impressionist movement.

Trained at the Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, he later moved to Paris where he was influenced by French artistic trends, particularly the works of Manet and the Impressionists.

He is known for his elegant portraits and genre scenes, often bathed in soft, natural light.

Johannes Vermeer | View of Houses in Delft, 1658

View of Houses in Delft / Het Straatje, known as 'The Little Street' is an unusual painting in Vermeer’s oeuvre, and remarkable for its time as a portrait of ordinary houses.

The composition is as exciting as it is balanced.

The old walls with their bricks, whitewash, and cracks are almost tangible.

The location is Vlamingstraat 40-42 in Delft.

Vermeer’s aunt Ariaentgen Claes lived in the house at the right, with her children, from around 1645 until her death in 1670. | Source: © Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Sylvius D. Paoletti | Genre painter

Sylvius D. Paoletti (1864-1921) was born in Venice, where he worked all his life.

He is the son of the famous genre and landscape painter Antonio Ermolao Paoletti (1833-1912) and learned the art of painting in his father's workshop.

In his works Paoletti devoted himself mainly to serene genre scenes settled in Venice, in which he skillfully captures the southern light with bright and glowing colors.

Paoletti died in 1921.

Robert Kemm | Admiring the painting, 1880

Robert Kemm (1837-1895) was a British painter.

He was considered a Romantic painter of genre scenes, especially Andalusia landscapes and figures.

This artwork called "Admiring the painting" was painted in oil and is a highly staged piece of work.

The room setting could easily be the artists studio, with the easel, palette and assortment of props.

Georges Girardot | Le reverences de la lune, 1890

Georges Marie Julien Girardot (1856-1914) was a French figure, landscape and marine painter.

Girardot was born in Besançon, Doubs on 4 August 1856.

He was trained by the artist Albert Maignan in Paris.

Girardot was active in Paris, painting mostly genre paintings, female nudes and landscapes.

Louis Rolland Trinquesse | After the Soirée, 1774

Louis Rolland Trinquesse (1746-1800) was a French Rococo painter.

He was a student at the Académie Royale from 1758 to at least 1770 and worked both as a portrait painter and a Genre painter.

His portraits are usually gentle and uncomplicated likenesses painted in pastel colours, for example the Young Girl (1777; Paris, Louvre).

Alphonse Spring | Violin Player, 1890

Alphons Spring (1843-1908) was a genre painter of the Munich School and co-founder of the artists' society Allotria in Munich.

Alphons Spring, who wrote himself Alfons Spring from around 1878, was born in Liepaja in Latvia and studied at the art school and academy in Saint Petersburg.

He moved to Munich 1870 where he became a student of Professor Wilhelm Diez.

Luigi Busi | Genre painter

Luigi Busi (1837-1884) was an Italian painter, born in Bologna.

Busi studied at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna, though by 1868, he is documented to be in Milan.

He was named academic professor at the Bolognese Academy in 1871.

In 1876, he was named Honorary Associate of the Brera Academy.

His early training was in an environment characterized by Realist depictions.

Jakob Kulle | Genre painter

Swedish artist Jakob Kulle Ohlsson (1838-1898) produced genre scenes depicting everyday moments from rural life.

They’re quiet and respectful, and generally lacking sentimental embellishments.

Grandmothers teach granddaughters the family craft, couples exchange loving glances, and the house cat polishes off the last of the chicken.

Alfred Elmore | Victorian painter

Alfred Elmore RA (1815-1881) was a British history and genre painter.

Alfred Elmore was born in Clonakilty, Ireland, the son of John Richard Elmore, a surgeon who retired from the British Army to Clonakilty.

His family moved to London, where Elmore studied at the Royal Academy of Arts.

His early works were in the troubadour style of Richard Parkes Bonington, but he soon graduated to religious work, notably The Martyrdom of Thomas à Becket, commissioned by Daniel O'Connell for Westland Row Church in Dublin.

Jean-Baptiste Madou | Genre painter

Jean-Baptiste Madou (1796-1877) was a Belgian painter and lithographer.

He created the Société Royale Belge des Aquarellistes.

Madou was born in Brussels.

He studied at the Brussels Academy of Fine Arts and was a pupil of Pierre Joseph Célestin François.

Pierre de Belay | Post-Impressionist painter

Pierre Savigny de Belay or Pierre de Belay (1890-1947) was a French painter.

He painted more than a thousand canvases, as many gouaches or watercolors, and drew thousands of sketches.

In 1919, upon his demobilization, Pierre de Belay took up residence in Paris, and stayed there for the rest of his life.

His quarter was Montparnasse.

Hans Andersen Brendekilde (1857-1942)

Hans Andersen Brendekilde è stato un pittore Danese.

Nato Hans Andersen in quella che oggi è una frazione di Odense e lontano parente dello scrittore connazionale Hans Christian Andersen, ebbe un'infanzia povera.

All'età di 10 anni lasciò la sua famiglia per vivere come pastore, dedicandosi poi dai 14 ai 17 anni alla lavorazione del legno.

Alfred Kowalski | Genre painter

Alfred Jan Maksymilian Kowalski /Alfred Wierusz-Kowalski (1849-1915) was a Polish painter and representative of the Munich School.

He was born on 11 October 1849 in Suwałki to father Teofil Kowalski of the Wieruszowa coat of arms and mother Teofilia (née Siewierska).

Wierusz-Kowalski settled in Munich in 1876 after studies in Warsaw, Prague, and Dresden.

He studied for a year at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts, and worked under Józef Brandt and Alexander von Wagner.

Robert McGregor | Genre painter

Robert McGregor RSA (1847-1922) was a Scottish landscape painter, genre painter, portrait painter and marine painter.

His genre was particularly painting working men such as fishermen, shepherds, crofters, pedlars, and farm labourers.

However he also painted Scottish, French and Dutch country and coastal scenery.

He usually signed his work in the right hand bottom corner.

Thomas Faed | Genre painter

Thomas Faed RSA (1826-1900) was a Scottish painter.

Faed was born on 8 June 1826, at Barlay Mill in Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire, and was the brother of the artists James Faed, John Faed and Susan Faed.

He received his art education in the school of design, Edinburgh and was elected an associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1849.

He went to London three years later, was elected an associate of the Royal Academy in 1861, and academician in 1864, and retired in 1893.