Allan Douglas Davidson | An English Yum-Yum, 1906

"An English Yum-Yum: my lady lights the sombre day: A scene from The Mikado", signed and dated 'Allan Davidson 1906', belongs to a tradition going back to Whistler's Japanese subjects of the 1860s and '70s, by way of paintings inspired by visits to Japan by Whistler's pupil Mortimer Menpes (1887), Alfred East (1889) and the two 'Glasgow Boys', George Henry and E.A. Hornel (1893-4).

The picture's title is taken from Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy opera The Mikado, first staged in March 1885. | Source: © Christie's

Leonor Fini (1907-1996)

Leonor Fini (Buenos Aires, 1907 - Parigi, 1996) nacque da padre argentino di origini beneventane e madre triestina di origini tedesche.

In seguito alla separazione, madre e figlia rientrarono a Trieste nel 1909 ospiti dello zio Ernesto Braun.

La bambina fu al centro di una strenua lotta tra i genitori.

La madre occultò la bambina adottando la tecnica del travestimento: Leonor Fini in futuro adotterà spesso, anch'essa, questo stratagemma per scandalizzare gli abitanti dei paesini del Carso sloveno o per divertire amici e colleghi.

Rosso pompeiano | I colori degli antichi Romani

Il rosso pompeiano si riferisce al colore del pigmento minerale a base di ossido di ferro con una tonalità vicina all'ocra rossa, così chiamato per il suo uso comune nell'antica pittura romana e per il fatto che è abbondante nei murales di Pompei.

Studi hanno dimostrato che le pareti con sfondi rosso pompeiano erano dipinte in vari modi, di cui l'uso del cinabro era il più costoso.

Con questo termine si definisce anche il colore rosso ocra di un intonaco caratteristico della ceramica romana.

Coordinate del colore

HEX #A22E37

sRGB1 (r;g; b) (162; 46; 55)

CMYK2 (c;m;y;k) (0; 72; 66; 36)

HSV (h;s;v) (355°; 72%; 64%)

Canaletto (1697-1768)

Giovanni Antonio Canal, better known as Canaletto, was a Venetian painter famous for his landscapes, or Vedute of Venice.

He was also an important printmaker in etching. His pupils included his nephew Bernardo Bellotto, Francesco Guardi, Michele Marieschi, Gabriele Bella and Giuseppe Moretti.

The painter, Giuseppe Bernardino Bison was a follower of his style. Joseph Smith sold much of his collection to George III, creating the bulk of the large collection of Canalettos owned by the Royal Collection.

There are many examples of his work in other British collections, including several at the Wallace Collection and a set of 24 in the dining room at Woburn Abbey. Canaletto's views always fetched high prices, and as early as the 18th century Catherine the Great and other European monarchs vied for his grandest paintings.

Claude Monet | Morning on the Seine near Giverny, 1897

Begun in 1896, Monet’s Mornings on the Seine series was not completed until 1897 because of inclement weather.

Having patiently scouted out views along the river, Monet then painted the pictures from a boat that he had converted into a floating studio.

For an extended period he rose by dawn in order to paint the changing effects of light as the sun came up.

He then lined up the canvases on easels in his studio to complete them together as a series.

Fifteen were shown at the Galerie Georges Petit in 1898. | © Metropolitan Museum of Art

Claude Monet | Morning on the Seine near Giverny, 1897 | Metropolitan Museum of Art

Lena Sotskova (Russian, 1963)

Lena Sotskova was born in Moscow. She was discovered as a child prodigy at the age of four. A descendant of generations of the Russian aristocracy, Lena was fortunate to have a privileged upbringing and elite education in leading art schools and through private lessons from masters of painting.

Lena Sotskova was studying and working in the vaults of prestigious institutions such as The Hermitage, The Louvre, Art Fund of Russia and royal palaces and cathedrals of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

She was involved in the restoration of rare pieces of art that were damaged during the Moscow fire of 1812 during the war with Napoleon Bonaparte.

Miroslav Yotov (Bulgarian, 1977)

Miroslav Yotov was born in Isperih, Bulgaria. Yotov or Cirk as he is fondly known to his friends is an enterprising and versatile young artist whose work and scope embraces an amalgam of styles that highlight his unique individualism and view of the world.

His style is unique - because of its Bulgarian accent and emotion, the brush strokes are well articulated and on occasions lustful, as if he is trying to seduce the viewer. This particular idiosyncrasy has won him accolades and admiration from his peers, critics and connoisseurs.

He has participated in several exhibitions in Bulgaria including major ones in Shumen, Isperih and Divdiadovo.

His paintings are well sort after by the discerning connoisseurs, young professionals and entrepreneurs with a sophisticated taste for vibrant and captivating colours and that unique Balkan perspective.