John Callcott Horsley | The world's first Christmas card, 1843

John Callcott Horsley, (born January 29, 1817, London, England - died October 18, 1903, London), British🎨 narrative painter best known as the designer of the first Christmas card🎨.

Created in 1843 for Callcott’s friend Sir Henry Cole, an edition of 1,000 cards was placed on sale in London.

Samuel Peploe | Colourist painter

Samuel John Peploe, RSA (1871-1935) is one of the group of four artists known as the "Scottish Colourists".

The other colourists were John Duncan Fergusson, Francis Cadell and Leslie Hunter.

Born in Edinburgh, he studied art in Paris and lived there from 1910-1912.

It was through painting holidays in Northern France that he was introduced to the use of bold colour, inspired by the bright sunlight.

Dunoyer De Segonzac | Modern / Impressionist painter

André Dunoyer de Segonzac (1884-1974) was a French painter and graphic artist.

Segonzac was born in Boussy-Saint-Antoine and spent his childhood there and in Paris. His parents wanted him to attend the military academy of Saint-Cyr but, recognizing his strong interest in drawing, they agreed to his enrollment at the Free Academy of Luc-Olivier Merson.

Abraham Bloemaert | I disegni

Abraham Bloemaert (1564-1651) è stato un pittore Olandese.

Figlio dell'architetto e dello scultore Cornelis Bloemaert, dal quale ricevette le prime lezioni prima di recarsi ad Utrecht nel 1575, dove, dopo un breve periodo di studio autodidatta sui manieristi di Anversa, Bloemaert divenne allievo di Gerrit Splinter e di Joos de Beer.

Presso quest'ultimo venne a contatto con la pittura fiamminga di Anthonie Blocklandt formatasi su una base romana-parmigiana.

Nel 1580 si trasferì a Parigi per seguire un perfezionamento artistico sotto la guida di vari maestri, tra i quali Hieronymus Francken I e Jean Bassot.

Durante il triennio di formazione francese si rivelò fondamentale anche la permanenza presso la scuola di manieristica di Fontainebleau.

Abraham Bloemaert | Circe, 1625-1628

Author: Abraham Bloemaert (Dutch Mannerist painter🎨, ca.1564-1651);
Title: Circe;
Medium: Oil on canvas;
Dimensions: 22 1/8 x 19 ¼ in. (56.2 x 48.9 cm.)
Provenance: Private collection, England - with Salomon Lilian, Amsterdam and Geneva, where acquired by the present owner in 2006;
Current location: Christie's.

Daughter of Helios and Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft, the enchantress Circe was notorious in Greek mythology for her knowledge of herbs and potions.

The story is recounted by Homer in the Odyssey (Book X): Odysseus and his companions came to the island retreat of the cruel sorceress on their journey home from the Trojan War. It was Circe’s way with travelers to offer them food laced with a magic potion that transformed them into swine.

Cornelis Cornelisz (1562-1638) | Mannerist painter

Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem - Dutch🎨 Golden Age painter and draughtsman, was one of the leading Northern Mannerist artists in the Netherlands, and an important forerunner of Frans Hals🎨 as a portraitist.

Together with Carel van Mander, Hendrick Goltzius and other artists, he started an informal drawing school that has become known in art history circles as the Haarlem Academy or "Haarlem Mannerists".

Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614) | Pittrice Manierista

Lavinia Fontana (Bologna, 24 agosto 1552 - Roma, 11 agosto 1614) è stata una pittrice Italiana del tardo Manierismo**.

Lavinia era figlia del pittore Manierista Prospero Fontana, nella cui bottega poté attingere, accanto agli insegnamenti del padre, ad una vasta gamma di esperienze pittoriche, emiliane (dal Parmigianino a Pellegrino Tibaldi), venete (Veronese, Jacopo Bassano), lombarde (Sofonisba Anguissola) e toscane.

Presso il padre poté anche frequentare i Carracci (Ludovico, Agostino e Annibale), poco più giovani, ma che non mancarono di influire su di lei.

Si narra che, ricevuta dal pittore Giovan Paolo Zappi la richiesta di sposarlo, la già attempata (25 anni) Lavinia pose la condizione di poter continuare a dipingere. Zappi accettò la cosa, tanto che rinunciò in pratica a lavorare in proprio e assunse il ruolo d'assistente della moglie.