Maria Oosthuizen, 1972 | Embrace painting

Maria Magdalena Oosthuizen is a full-time artist exhibiting in various galleries.

Oosthuizen was born in Paarl (Western Cape) South Africa. She currently resides in Mossel Bay, a small coastal town in South Africa, with her husband, and three children.

Maria is a qualified hairdresser.

Diego Velázquez and the Modern recreations

Diego Velázquez is the most influential figure in the history of Spanish portraiture.

Velázquez is estimated to have produced between only 110 and 120 known canvases.

The respect with which twentieth century painters regard Velázquez's work attests to its continuing importance.

Jean-Leon Gérome (1824-1904)

Jean-Léon Gérôme is considered among the greatest French academic painters of the 19th century, following in the footsteps of the father of French neo-classical painting, Jacques-Louis David.

Born in 1824 into a modest family in Vesoul, Haute-Saône, Gérôme moved to Paris in 1841 and enrolled at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in the studio of Paul Delacroche and later that of Charles Gleyre.

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.