Arts
Arts give us a way to explore our lives and the lives of others, whether it's on canvas, on-stage or on a page.
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Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling took the master artist four years to complete. Pope Julius II commissioned the painting, which Michelangelo refused at first. Read the fascinating story behind this amazing work of art.
Some of Van Gogh's most famous paintings, including "Starry Night," were painted while the artist was hospitalized for seizures. This article explores his experiences outside the Paris art scene and provides in-depth information on many of the paintings he did during this period.
After he left the asylum at Saint-Remy, Vincent van Gogh completed nearly 80 paintings in two months in Auvers-sur-Oise before committing suicide. Learn about the final works of van Gogh, the last treasures of an amazing twentieth-century artist.
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The artistic career of Vincent van Gogh lasted only a decade but the passionate expression and daring color of his paintings has fascinated viewers for more than a century. Learn about Vincent van Gogh and his amazing artwork.
Michelangelo is one of the most remarkable artists in history. His masterpieces include David and Last Judgment and his artwork can also be seen in magnificent frescoes on the Sistine Chapel Ceiling.
One of Van Gogh's most famous paintings, The Bedroom, was inspired by the artist's favorite home. He called it his "Yellow House" and its color soon became his signature shade.
Gustave Caillebotte was an Impressionist painter whose personal wealth was a cornerstone in the Impressionist exhibitions while his background as an engineer and architect was evident in his sleek urban views. View his paintings on urban life.
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French Impressionist Frederic Bazille was part of the group that formed around the great Edouard Manet. Unfortunately he was killed in battle during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, before the Impressionist group really saw much success. See his paintings.
Setting Sun at Ivry, by Jean-Baptiste Armand Guillaumin, incorporates many of Impressionist trademarks. The painting is an oil on canvas and is housed in Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
With a life full of spiritual, political and artistic struggle, Michelangelo's story is much deeper than his well-known masterpieces. Defying his father at an early age, Michelangelo took up art instead of business -- a decision that changed the history of his life, as well as art itself.
Banks of the Seine was among Stanislas Lepine's contributions to the first Impressionist exhibition. Banks of the Seine is an oil on canvas painting on display at Musée d'Orsay, Paris. Learn more about this beautiful painting.
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A close friend of both Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh, Bernard painted his sister while on a summer trip to Pont Aven, Brittany in 1888. See the painting and learn more about this post-Impressionist painter and the style of synthetism.
Eugen Boudin was long fascinated with how the light reflected on sand and water. It was his work that inspired many of the creations of Claude Monet. La Plage de Trouville is Boudin's most famous painting and has inspired many great impressionists.
Odilon Redon was part of the first group to really pose a challenge to the Impressionists, offering an alternative venue for progressive art. His work was evocative, fantastic and mysterious rather than rigorous and scientific. View his paintings.
The Banks of the Oise by French impressionist Charles-Francois Daubigny is a luminous example of a plein air composition. This oil on canvas painting is housed in Musée des Beaux-Arts in Bordeaux, France. Learn more about this painting.
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As a an outspoken advocate of "realism," a modern approach that was frank in style and unsentimental in expression, impressionist painter Gustave Courbet used a dark palette to paint depictions of ordinary life. View some of his seascape paintings.
The Gleaners is Jean-Francois Millet's most famous Impressionist painting. The Gleaners is an oil on canvas which can be seen at Musée d'Orsay, Paris. See The Gleaners and learn why Millet painted the life of rural France.
Henri Fantin-Latour was inspired by Impressionists' innovative style and honored famous artists and the intellectual elite in his paintings. See why he is best known for his Impressionist portraits, and view examples of his works, including a portrait of Edouard Manet.
Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas is famous for his Impressionist paintings of dancers. They composed over half of his works. See examples of his art and learn about his technique of creating a sense of spontaneous observation in his paintings.
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Impressionism is a form of art developed in the late 19th century as a rejection of conventional style. Famous Impressionist artists include Edouard Manet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. See colorful images of Impressionist paintings.
Going against contemporary ideas of art, Edouard Manet brought the modernist point of view into direct conflict with conventional standards. His resistance attracted artists such as Claude Monet, who joined together to form the Impressionist movement. See Manet's paintings.
Camille Pissarro was one of the original Impressionists known for his plein air technique. Later, when the Impressionists became a major force in the art world, he advocated most strongly for the new generation of progressive artists. See his works.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir became an influential Impressionist through his brilliant use of color. His works focused on capturing the spirit and sophistication of urban entertainment. View his paintings and learn about his career.
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Although Paul Cezanne was known as an Impressionist, Cezanne only participated in two Impressionist exhibitions. His independent vision prompted him to move away from Paris and withhold his works as he focused on nature's structural order. See his paintings.
Informed by recent discoveries in optical theory, Georges Seurat had developed a method of applying dots of pure pigment on his canvas in close juxtaposition, later to be known as Neo-Impressionism. Learn about the life and art of Georges Seurat.