Artist: Sandro Botticelli

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1498

This wonderful illustration from Sandro Botticelli, depicts the Pope and Girolamo Savonarola engaging in a game of basketball. Usually the sport of basketball is engaged for fun, or for competition. Here, the sport being depicted in this painting is only a representation of what Girolamo did to the Pope and how the Pope responded. Girolamo was critical of the Pope and the type of art he was commissioning and called it heresy. The Pope didn’t appreciate Girolamo's remarks and his attitude in general toward the current art movement. This sealed Girolamo’s fate, as the Pope soon after sentenced him to a hanging, furthermore to a burning to prevent Girolamo’s soul from resting peacefully. This is depicted in the oil painting as Girolamo challenging the Pope to a ball game, and getting absolutely dunked on. Even though the work depicted never actually occurred, it is a masterful representation of the downfall of the infamous Girolamo Savonarola and a win for art around the world.

Artist: Raphael

Medium: Tempera

Date: 1498

This beautiful flemish tempera painting by Raphael shows off an intense rap battle between Leonardo Da Vinci and his rival Michelangelo. The rivalry between the two artists was birthed from people constantly comparing the two. People would measure the imaginative paintings of Leonardo against the realistic and tense bodies of Michelangelo's sculptures. The comparison would start with the fans and would elevate the two artists bickering about which medium was better, resulting in many intense rap battles and extreme barbeques. Not that they were actually food at these events, but the roasts were just that profound. Michelangelo laced his lyrics with the belief that backgrounds didn’t hold any meaning and that the body and how it was figured was the superior way to appreciate God's work. Leonardo, on the other hand, armed his words with the notion that he was admiring the world that God created and wanted to appreciate all of it by capturing it in paint. Even though it was common knowledge that the two had a rivalry, it appears that Raphaels “Words that Duel, Leonardo da Vinci vs. Michelangelo” is the only surviving artifact that depicts one of their many famous rap battles. Raphael painted his two artistic peers to immortalize the relationship between them and the many duels of words that took place between them.

Artist: Jan Van Eyck

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1435

In this beautiful oil painting, revered painter Jan Van Eyck illustrates a marvelous scene of a gorgeous woman in her humble abode. She wears an exquisite dress of the finest fabrics and is also clad with expensive jewelry.

As the renaissance art era is at its prime, patron portraiture becomes popular among the wealthy. These paintings were very well intended to portray a social persona of the subject being painted, which is clearly depicted in this commissioned portrait painting.

Moreover, note the flowers that adorn the woman’s head as well as the scenery around her. Besides representing the realistic surroundings, Jan Van Eyck adds his personal symbolism too.

Nature especially is his metaphor of his view of the entire world, as a work and reflection of God and His spirit. Here, the very detailed depictions of nature reveals his spiritual truth.

Artist: Michelangelo

Medium: Sculpting 

Date: 1512

The sculpture above was made by Michelangelo to visualize his complex feeling for the church while he was working on painting the Sistine Chapel. It showcases Michelangelo's unadulterated hatred for painting. The only reason that he decided to take on the project was because he was friends with the Pope, so he had to do a friend a favor. Although he was paid well to complete the painting, he couldn’t bear the thought of painting another stroke on the ceiling of this chapel. He often wondered what his rival Leonado Da Vinc would think after he so thoroughly stated how much he thought painting was inferior to sculpting in every way and manner. The amount of rage that Michelangelo holds for this project is clearly shown in the tension of the sculpture's figure.

Artist: Michelangelo

Medium: Sculpting 

Date: 1512

 Michelangelo crafted a second sculpture after the first one, this one is capturing his conflicted feeling with the current state with the church and the Pope. Whilst Michelangelo was working on the Sistine Chapel, a man named Martin Luther, printed a thesis paper with 95 reasons and ways the church has wronged its people by letting the rich pay their way to heaven, caring too much about art, and not focusing on the bible enough. This conflicted with Michelangelo due to him being able to succeed and prosper from the Church commissioning lavish paintings and extravagant sculptures, but is letting the church spending such large amounts of money to create such frivolous things for themselves really the right thing to do? This feeling leaked its way into the way he painted the Sistine Chapel and the way he sculpted this sculpture.

Artist: Sandro Botticelli

Medium: Tempera Painting

Date: 1486

Student of Fra Filippo Lippi, and influenced by several others, Sandro Botticelli paints an interesting piece. This tempera painting depicts two doves– the mother is standing close to her baby with her wings spread out over her young protectively. 

Botticelli is well-known for painting some of the most beautiful Venus’ & Madonna’s of the Renaissance. He received many commissions from powerful and wealthy Florentine families who sought a more personal engagement with their faith. Though at the same time, they commissioned art to decorate their homes. This allowed Botticelli to be more creative and explore secular themes. 

Here, Botticelli intertwines the two: there is the visual pleasure and aesthetic of the painting itself. In addition, the dove, which symbolizes love and tenderness, alludes to the Madonna and Child. The image of Mary, a tender and loving mother, was tremendously appealing for prayer pieces. 

Botticelli paints the dove, incorporating a spiritual element to his work. Now, patrons can still connect with this piece on a deeper, intimate, and spiritual level.

Artist:Leonardo da Vinci

Medium: Oil paint 

Date: 1503-1504

This Extravagant yet small painting  by Leonardo da Vinci, inspired by the renaissance period. “ The Mona Lisa” is one of the biggest talks of this era. I mean this painting went through so much just to have its own display.

Here,Da Vinci replaces the iconic Mona Lisa with the iconic American Rap star Cardi B, This takes plot twists in history! Yet it's still admired by today’s society. Da Vinci may be motivated by this era’s rap culture. The wonder in people's mind of why was this painting going into the dark side.

Cardi B, is a female raper known all across the globe she is a symbol of empowerment and fame she’s a role model to some women in Latin america. She has always been in every polemic Story in social media and became famous because of a tv series Love & Hip Hop in New york. This work invites the viewer to appreciate the connection between art and music. These two are “The way to people's hearts” and both bring some people peace, and teleport them to their own little world.

Artist: Joseph Wright of Derby

Medium: Oil paint on canvas

Date:1763-65

This enchanted painting is somewhat funny to me. This piece of art by Joseph is about wizards discovering what part of the world they would target and enchant next. However, they would soon find out that an evil person is trying to take their magic away. These wizards are gathering and connecting/discovering science to make powerful potions and spells to defeat a the darkness. I was sort of inspired my some movies for example "Matilda, harry potter" and more.

In this painting Joseph replaces the people that were in the painting and transform them into something more mystical creatures. To conclude, Joseph really surprised us with this modern peace, I would call it "The talk of the Wizards".

Artist: Jean-Honoré Fragonard

Date: c. 1760s

Medium: Oil paint 

The emergence of the Rococo style is largely attributed to the death of Pope Louis XIV, whose firm grip on classicism and "Grand Manner" governed the art of France in the 50 years preceding his death in 1715. Louis would die just four days shy of his 77th birthday from gangrene associated with an infection in his leg.

An interpretation of such by a renowned artist of the Rococo period, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, is depicted above. Louis, or at least a generic pope meant to symbolize him, is shown in what resembles a modern hospital bed in form, ironically with Rococo stylistics. Just beside him lies an IV stand in similar fashion, doing just about nothing for the pope. Fragonard may have wanted to commemorate the catalyst of the Rococo period in a blunt, sardonic manner. Insult to injury being the lack of proper guard rails on the bed. 

Artist: Gustave Courbet

Medium: Oil Paint

Date: 1845

In this intriguing piece by Courbet, we see a tree frog relaxing after a long day of catching prey. This piece is celebrated by Art Historians for being the first of Courbet’s abstract works.

Here Courbet uses a cigarette to depict the stress relief to the end of a long day. Tree frogs, typically found in South America, correlate with cigarettes, which were invented in South America in the 16th century. 

Courbet, leading the Realism movement in France does not typically use abstract art. However here, the vibrant colors of the treefrog led to a different approach. Cigarettes symbolizing relaxation after stress ties into the fact Courbet was strict with his realistic art and lets “loose” for this piece of a tree frog smoking a cigarette in this abstract oil painting.

Artist: Donatello

Medium: Sculpting

Date: 1411-1413

This sculpture is an incredible and flawless artwork of Luke Skywalker from the ground-breaking Sci-Fi franchise "Star Wars" who is played by none other than famous actor Mark Hamill. Inspired by Hamill's character in the movie's as a simple farmer who became a hero, Donatello decided to craft this one as a show of being received a commission to do so from the line drapers guild of Florence. The first statue was meant to decorate the guild's niche in the Orsanmichele, a corn exchange and meeting place in Florence. Each guild was given its own niche and in 1339 all were asked to decorate their respective niches. The guilds, however, were slow to begin. The fifteenth century had begun before any work had even been commissioned. To speed the process along, the city of Florence issued an edict stating that if decoration of each niche had not begun within the following ten years, the offended guilds would have their niche confiscated and reallocated to another. With this in mind, the guilds finally got to work.

Artist: Joseph Wright of Derby

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1766

In this amazing oil painting, one of humanity's greatest, brilliant and genius minds on earth, Albert Einstein is the philosopher doing a lecture on the Orrery instead of John Arden. The artist chose to have Einstein in this because he was once a German-born theoretical physicist who is widely held to be one of the greatest and most influential scientists of all time. Best known for developing the theory of relativity, Einstein also made important contributions to quantum mechanics, and was thus a central figure in the revolutionary reshaping of the scientific understanding of nature that modern physics accomplished in the first decades of the twentieth century. He would be a perfect man to talk about the mechanical model as Wright depicted scientific "miracles" marked a break with previous traditions in which the artistic depiction of such wonder was reserved for religious events, since to Wright the marvels of the technological age were as awe-inspiring as the subjects of the great religious paintings.

Artist: Hieronymus Bosch

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1503

In this painting, The Garden of Earthly Delights is the modern title given to a triptych oil painting on oak panel painted by the Early Netherlandish master Hieronymus Bosch, between 1490 and 1510, when Bosch was between 40 and 60 years old. But in this version, the garden is full of magical delights like fairy tales which Bosch painted a show of supernatural connections with man and nature. The intricacy of its symbolism, particularly that of the central panel, has led to a wide range of scholarly interpretations over the centuries. Twentieth-century art historians are divided as to whether the triptych's central panel is a moral warning or a panorama of paradise lost. The first painting was made to commemorate Count Henry II of Nassau-Breda’s wedding.Perhaps the most brilliantly original and morally complex of all northern European religious painters, Bosch is most immediately associated with works with a disturbingly vivid, dream-like quality.

Artist: Vincent van Gogh

Medium: Oil paint on canvas

Date: 1866

In 1866, Claude Monet was enjoying a nice day painting en plein air. His subjects were three women in a garden, and he was painting in his normal style of impressionism. Suddenly, the world starts to shake and there is a blend of motion and color floating around them. Once the air settles, Claude is shocked to see his future-self emerge from the water. Let’s call him Claudi, who is determined to steal the very long paintbrush from Claude. The reason why he’s attempting to take away Claude’s brush is so that he could make some changes to the painting, “Women in the Garden.” He’s trying to change it because in a year from now, the Salon would reject it for having a weak narrative. Meanwhile, the three women have fainted into the water seeing two copies of the same man. The two men couldn’t care less. These women now appear to be drowning, which ironically, would’ve made a more interesting and stronger narrative for his painting, Women in the Garden. 

Artist: Salvador Dali

Medium: Photograph

Date: 1953

In this Photo, Drake, the popular Canadian rapper is shown brushing his teeth in the morning. His older reflection glances back him. Dali's photos show a great effort of striking creativity and symbolism.

Dali, the Spanish surrealist showed his creativity in moving ways. Here, Drake is face to face with his older reflection. Drake being the "Certified Tooth Brusher" is great marketing for his hit album "Certified Lover Boy."

Photography, popularizing around the 1950's was a leading force in Dali's experimentation in color film photography. Dali had a passion for traveling the world to create art, just like famous rapper Drake. Although his art may be controversial he still freely expresses himself. Drake being a huge creative inspiration to many, made this the collaboration of a lifetime!

Artist: Leonardo da Vinci

Medium: Tempera painting

Date: 1501

Beyonce is a highly regarded artist, much like da Vinci. She has an entire album and tour that’s dedicated to the Renaissance. Also known as rebirth, the Renaissance brought about a lot of change and innovation. For example, they moved from less religious depictions to more secular portraiture. This is probably why her breasts are able to be shown more apparently (although this would not be accepted for years to come). Before the renaissance, a woman would not be rendered this way.  

This background is very similar to Leonardo da Vinci’s the Mona Lisa, in the way that there is a clear vanishing point, and the hue gets lighter the further away you look. 

In this piece, you can see Beyonce has lightened skin due to the overuse of powder. The reason for this was to appear more fairer skinned, which was still a very popular beauty tool during that time. Beyonce is depicted as a queen, which she is, and you can see that from the very elaborate crown adorning her head. She is absolutely drenched in power and wealth, from her glittering jewelry to her beautiful and styled hair. This painting must’ve been a commission from her husband, the King.  

Artist: Jacques Louis David

Year: 1801

Medium: Oil paint

Napoleon was famously no stranger to more grandiose portrayals, a certain painting depicting the commander on horseback as he heroically crosses the Alps at Saint Bernard pass being emblematic of that. That painting is however a theatrical exaggeration, by Jacques Louis David, but it's far from the most extreme depiction of Napoleon by the painter. Shown above is a painting depicting the commander witnessing a billowing fallout cloud, over 130 years before any uranium atoms were bombarded with neutrons. Napoleon wears a stare of fortitude; It's likely that he requested he be the only subject in the painting to highlight that very thing, his mental and physical fortitude in witnessing such a sight - being the only one capable to. How Napoleon is still able to withstand the thermal pulse and blinding tsunami of light produced by a literal nuke remains unaddressed by David. What is apparent in this painting however is Napoleon’s firm, predictive belief in humanity’s ability to progress, so to that man produces weapons nothing the likes of what Napoleon or his men will witness in their lifetimes, to rock and scorch the very earth man walks -- Napoleon endures it like nothing, for the most part.

Artist: George Seurat

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1884-1886

In this painting by famous french painter and post-impressionist, he created this masterpiece after the first one to show that instead of just people their are cute pets running around paying with each other and their owners. Seurat must have chose this to interpreted as more revealing and an extension to the essence of modern existence and its double edged sword of social spectacle and isolation. We are all apart of nature as animals because we were born from the tiniest amoeba in the evolution of life. In the 1880s lower-middle classes flocked to the Grande Jatte in suburban Paris for a riverside stroll and a picnic on Sunday afternoons. Seurat was far from embracing the art movement's pursuit of fleeting spontaneous. While he created the original, he developed the pointilliste technique which was another impressive milestone in his life.

Artist: Jacques-Louis David

Year: 1801

Medium: Oil Paint

In Jacques-Louis David's captivating oil painting, Napoleon assumes the role of an astronomy tutor teaching a young French scholar. The composition, rich in symbolism, portrays the mighty leader engaged in an enlightening moment with a young scholar.

Centered around an intricate orrery mechanical model of the solar system the artwork showcases Napoleon's commitment to education and enlightenment. The orrery becomes a metaphor for the cosmos of knowledge, with the young scholar eagerly absorbing the wisdom imparted by the iconic figure.’

The reason Jacques-Louis David made this beautiful piece is to portray Napoleon as an enlightenment figure as a form of propaganda to make Napoleon look good.

Artist: Jacques-Louis David

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1801

In Jacques-Louis David's intriguing oil painting, Napoleon engages in a duel with himself through a game of chess. David skillfully portrays the paradoxical game, where victory and defeat lie in the hands of the same player.

The strategic contest unfolds on a regal chessboard, each move a calculated reflection of the leader's tactical brilliance. The dual presence of Napoleon underscores his complex psyche, 

Symbolically, the chessboard becomes a battlefield, mirroring the political maneuvers that defined his era, also the chess pieces, meticulously rendered, mirror the duality within Napoleon's leadership.

David's meticulous brushstrokes capture the intensity of this solitary match, inviting viewers to ponder the internal conflicts inherent in leadership.

Artist: Sandro Botticelli

Date of Display: 1498

Girolamo Savonarola is in conversation with a fellow friar member. What can be seen however is Savonarola sneakily reaching for the waist of his fellow friar member, aiming to steal anything he can find on his person. Both the Friar member and Savonarola look at the viewer, knowing that what is happening here is an unforgivable sin in the eyes of god.

Savonarola has risen to power and has started banning religious symbolism and iconoclasm in art, literature, and other creative works in an event known as “The Bonfire of The Vanities”. This resulted in the destruction of many artworks and literature with religious symbology under the preface that it is “forbidden to worship icons”.

Sandro Botticelli chose to create this piece as a statement against Savonarola and his decision to destroy any and all artwork with religious symbolism. He shows this through depicting Savonarola committing one of the Seven deadly sins; Greed by showcasing Savonarola attempting to steal something from a fellow friar member

Artist: Sandro Botticelli

Date of Display: 1498


In This painting, Girolamo Savonarola can be seen seated at a table with many golden and jewel encrusted items. These items are a clever way to symbolize Savonarola’s wealth; however, he can be seen staring hatefully at the viewer, creating a tense feeling as you gaze upon the work. Sandro Botticelli chose to depict Savonarola this way as a well crafted way to show his jealousy towards the viewer, despite his clearly displayed wealth.

Savonarola has taken authority over the medici family and with his rise to power, came the prohibition of religious idolatry across various creative expressions, including art and literature, during "The Bonfire of The Vanities." This led many artworks featuring religious symbolism and literary works approved by his views being burned by his followers.

Sandro Botticelli chose to create this piece as a statement against Savonarola and his decision to destroy any and all artwork with religious symbolism. He shows this through depicting Savonarola committing one of the Seven deadly sins; Envy by portraying him glaring hatefully at the viewer whilst seated in front of many riches.

Artist: Sandro Botticelli

Date of Display: 1498

Sandro Botticelli creates a bountiful feast upon a small table with Savonarola preparing to eat. However as we gaze upon this masterpiece of its time, we notice that he isn’t sharing at all, instead receiving even more food as a massive golden dish is placed at the table by a fellow friar member, possibly one of his disciples. The rest of the friar however glares at Savonarola hatefully in the background, as they receive none of the food as Savonarola hoards it all for himself; the essence of gluttony, an unforgivable sin.

Savonarola has assumed control over Florence, and his ascent to power brought about the destruction of religious idolatry in multiple artistic mediums during a massive purge which we have called "The Bonfire of The Vanities". This resulted in the destruction of numerous artworks featuring religious symbolism along with any literature that didn’t meet his “tyrannical views”.

Sandro Botticelli chose to create this piece as a statement against Savonarola and his decision to destroy any and all artwork with religious symbolism. He shows this through depicting Savonarola committing one of the Seven deadly sins; Gluttony by hoarding a bountiful feast and forcing his friar members to watch.

Artist: Michelangelo

Medium: Sculpting

Date: 1529-31

With its origins in the Italian Renaissance courts, at this time, ballet started to spread from Italy to France at the hand of Catherine de’ Medici: a noble and wealthy woman.

Since ballet was then the true form of royal entertainment, it was the aristocratic money that was responsible for the beginning stages of the development of what they called ‘court ballet’. 

And as one who is appreciative of art, Catherine was a patron of many art pieces. She turns to Michelangelo, a master of his work, for yet another commission to add to her collection.

Further wanting to prove his view of sculpture as the superior art form, Michelangelo carves this beautiful piece of a graceful ballerina. He attributes this piece to Catherine de’ Medici to honor her influence in the development of the ballet in France.

Medium: Oil painting

Artist: Gustave Courbet

Date: 19th Century

During the 19^th Century, the French Bourgeoise were very well off—and they knew it. They would take long walks, drink heavily, absorb art, etc. Their lives were like one long relaxing day party, so they held no woes for the massive class gap that was expanding. So, when Gustave Courbet brought The Stonebreakers painting to the Saloon, it was very ill received.  

In the image above, I have reimagined the Stonebreakers as if they were father and son ex-bourgeoise members that had to join the working class. The father had an extra martial affair, and the child was a bastard. This represents the child having to continue the working-class cycle because of these indelible circumstances that he was born into. Therefore, the father had to join the rat race, become a wait staff/bartender, and enlist his son as well. In the image, the father is inspecting the absinthe drink his son has just made and is not impressed. The Bourgeoise enjoyed Absinthe, and this was a very popular drink at the time. The fact that the father is making the drink instead of drinking it shows just how far he has fallen. The son, on the other hand, could care less about making a drink exactly right, because he longed to be with his old friends and missed just being a kid. This is an ironic take on the Stonebreakers, and one could imagine that Bourgeoise would not receive this painting well either. It is a cautionary tale for them, and in this way, there is some justice for the Stonebreakers. 

Medium: Tempera Painting

Artist: Girolamo Savonarola

Date: 1497

Girolamo Savonarola was known for being a picture of control and self-regulation in all matters. In this painting, he is depicted indulging his vices behind closed doors. You can even see the artwork in the background, and it is not a well-defined religious image.  

This painting is in fact, a self-portrait. I have a theory that Savonarola was an artist and could not keep up with the foremost artists at the time like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Instead of destroying everything, he kept most of the art for himself, and burned the pieces that he did not want. In the painting, he is raising a glass of beer, as if to quietly toast to the people outside. Since he was a secret indulger, he had to pretend like he had friends who would drink with him.

One day, his wife found his studio, the stolen collection of art, and the many empty bottles of alcohol. Enraged, she kicked him out of the house. As she did this, she threw the paintings out the window and onto the street. When people saw this, they ridiculed him for being a hypocrite and subsequently burned him on the very spot. Since he was soaked in alcohol, he burned quickly.  This puts a whole new meaning to the Bonfire of the Vanities.

Artist: Artemisia Gentileschi

Medium: Oil painting with tenebrism

Date:1623

The painting, A Queen's Real Throne by Artemisia Gentileschi, contains depictions of Artemisia Gentileshi surrounded by dead men. Artemisia is even sitting on their corpses as if they were her makeshift throne. It is believed that this painting and many of her other gruesome masterpieces were a result of the horrific crimes that were committed against her in her younger years. All of the dead people represent men that take advantage of women for their own selfish needs and that Artemisia was the one to bring them to their end. Historians have even found evidence that Artemisia has planned to enact some of the sights in her pieces, and that she would do this in the form of karmic justice for other women that have been harmed and for herself as if she was a type of vigilante. Unfortunately, Artemisia stuck to painting as a way to cope with her trauma and didn’t become a karmic vigilante who fulfilled the prophecies that were foretold in her work.

Artist: Martin Luther

Medium: Primitive Crayon

Date:1517

The priest, Martin Luther, was an absolute art fanatic. He had a great appreciation for all types of art, but specifically religious art. He was a big fan of Leonardo da Vinci, Albecht Dürer and many other artists. He would even get distracted during his sermons to speak about Raphael's last work and took every opportunity to relate anything about art to religion. Being an art mega fan, he wanted to try to make some of his own religious art. As he soon noticed, art materials were expensive and his church wasn’t rich enough to cover the cost. Still passionate to create his own piece, he gathered the materials he could find. What he was able to scrounge together was a type of primitive crayon made from pigment and type of wax. With these unique art supplies, he set out to create finest religious art pieces to ever grace the land. The result was Priests Passion,The Madonna and Child, and it wasn’t the finest religious art piece to ever grace the land. His piece was painfully below average. Martin Luther, who had zero art experience was confused why he, a man of God, couldn’t make beautiful masterpieces comparable to the artist he admired. Martin Luther grew jealous at the fact that he could make good art, so he became hyper critical of everything that the church was doing and has done in the past to form the 95 thesis. His end goal with the 95 thesis was to stop the church from making art because if he couldn't make it, no one could. The 95 thesis was so impactful, that it caused the Protestant Reformation.

Artist: Pablo Picasso

Medium: Oil Paint

Date: 1942 

This is a lovely feline oil painting by Picasso. He shows us two cats, one of which is a German rex on the left, with red cloth wrapped around it. The other is a Chartreux, a French black cat, being attacked by the German rex. While it's not new for cats to make an appearance in art, they are usually depicted as a symbol of intelligence, comfort, or shown to be cute and cuddly. Picasso tended to do the opposite. He chooses to depict cats as strong, edgy, and fearless. While this painting on the surface is just two cats fighting in the fields, it's important for us to acknowledge the context behind this piece. Picasso was in France during World War II, and Picasso chose not to leave while over two million people fled the advancement of German troops in what became known as the Exodus. Picasso chose to stay behind in France and continue painting, and he brought us a multitude of great pieces, including this one.

Artist: Leonardo Da Vinci

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1512

This is a personal favorite work by Leonardo of mine. In this piece, Leonardo combines his love of nature with his love of thought, the universe, and the natural world. Leonardo Da Vinci had many unnamed felines that he studied, along with his birds, dogs, and horses; he was an animal lover, but none of them made it into a fully fledged painting, none but this one. This furry friend did not have a name, but Leonardo picked him out of all his nature buddies as he followed him home from one of his nights spent robbing graves to dissect corpses to study. Leonardo studied over 30 corpses in his life, and he grew fond of the cat that lived at the graveyard.

Leonardo saw the cat as part of his studies, almost as a miniature colleague. He adored the little guy so much that he became the subject of this painting, the only one he created with an animal as the main subject. The cat never received a formal name or was called anything by Leo, but he was quoted as saying, “Even the smallest feline is a masterpiece of nature." Though it saddens many that this graveyard cat never received a name, this timeless piece shows Leonardo's personal obsessions with philosophy, admiration for animals, and obsession with the natural world, and shows them to us in a stunning way.

Artist: Mary Cassatt

Medium: Sketch in pencil

Date: 1886

Dogs, a symbol of loyalty portrayed in art history, are typically known for chasing mailmen. In Cassatt's drawing, "Mailman is a dog's best friend" she portrays the mailman and dog to have a friendly and happy relationship.

The Rise of impressionism was growing around the time of this drawing. Cassatt, interested in impressionism, took it upon herself to make a symbolistic drawing. The impressionism movement was about painting outdoors and at the scene. since this pose is in motion, Cassatt had to remember the scene based on her memory and use of artistic knowledge.

The mailman and dog having a playful relationship goes against societal standards. While impressionism was going against societal standards in the way majority of individuals were not on board with the movement. Dogs being a symbol of loyalty shows fidelity to the mailman who can symbolize always being on the move and not have a stagnant lifestyle.

Artist: Jacques-Louis David

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1801

In Jacques-Louis David's powerful oil painting, Napoleon engages in a duel with himself and one other person through a game of poker. David skillfully portrays the game, where Napoleon both controls and plays the game.

The witty contest unfolds on a grand poker table, each play a calculated yet daring reflection of the leader's Wit and willingness to take risks. The painting depicts Napoleon as both dealer and player showing his power.

David's meticulous attention to detail, from the regal attire of Napoleon to the civilian's subtle defiance, invites viewers to contemplate the intricate dynamics of power, strategy, and chance in the intricate tapestry of political existence

Artist: Jacques-Louis David

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1801

In Jacques-Louis David's masterful portrayal, "Napoleon Riding Through the Forest," the emperor emerges as a solitary figure astride his majestic steed. The dense forest envelops him, its shadows echoing the complexities of his rule. As sunlight filters through the foliage, it illuminates Napoleon's determined countenance, emphasizing his imperial resolve. The dense woodland becomes a metaphor for the political landscape he navigates, full of challenges and uncertainties. David skillfully captures the symbiosis between man and nature, reflecting Napoleon's unstoppable momentum amid the organic chaos. The painting, an ode to leadership and nature's formidable forces, invites contemplation on power, destiny, and the relentless march of history.

Artist: Jacques-Louis David

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1801

In Jacques-Louis David's mighty depiction, "Napoleon Leaning on the World," the expanse of power and ambition unfolds within the confines of the emperor's office. Napoleon, leaning thoughtfully on a grand globe, symbolizes his imperial aspirations transcending global boundaries. David artfully captures the dichotomy of conquest and contemplation as the ruler surveys the world beneath his fingertips. The meticulous details of the opulent office underscore the intersection of military might and intellectual prowess. This painting becomes a tableau of strategic vision, portraying Napoleon as both a conqueror of lands and a steward of geopolitical intricacies, forever etching his indomitable legacy on the canvas of history.

Artist: Jacques-Louis David

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1804

In Jacques-Louis David's iconic painting, "Napoleon Crowning Napoleon," a paradoxical scene unfolds as the emperor places a crown upon his own head. Symbolizing Napoleon's audacious self-coronation in 1804, the artwork encapsulates the ruler's unbridled ambition and desire for absolute power. The mirror in the background reflects the ceremony, emphasizing the self-contained nature of this pivotal moment. David's meticulous strokes capture the grandeur of self-assertion, portraying Napoleon as the architect of his destiny. The painting serves as a powerful commentary on the nexus of authority and self-aggrandizement, immortalizing the complex interplay between individual agency and the pursuit of imperial stature.

Artist: Sandro Botticelli

Date of Display: 1498

Savonarola can be seen sitting upon a great chair, surrounded by his disciples. Savonarola here is depicted by Sandro Botticelli as The Sin of Sloth through he lazy demeanor and mannerisms as well as being dressed in a nightgown, rather than his famous black robes. His disciples look to him for guidance, kneeling before him and gazing upon him eagerly, almost begging for him to give them something to do. Botticelli chose to depict the disciples in this way as many of Savonarola’s followers were brainwashed children and teenagers, who would look to Savonarola for instruction, waiting for the next task to carry out for the lazy ruler.

Savonarola has assumed control over the Florentine Republic, and his ascent to power resulted in the abolishment of idolatry across every artistic medium in an event recognized as "The Bonfire of The Vanities" in art history. This resulted in the burning of numerous artworks featuring religious symbolism, along with the destruction of literature that did not adhere to his or his disciples' viewpoints.

Sandro Botticelli chose to create this piece as a statement against Savonarola and his decision to destroy any and all artwork with religious symbolism. He shows this through depicting Savonarola committing one of the Seven deadly sins; Sloth by dressing Savonarola in a nightgown and having him lazily lounge on a chair whilst his brainwashed disciples gather around, awaiting instruction.

Artist: Sandro Botticelli

Date of Display: 1498

The Painting shows a great bonfire with scared onlookers in the top right. But Savonarola isn’t scared, as he reaches out towards the fire. Botticelli here, is depicting The Bonfire of The Vanities, as the Sin of Pride, as Savonarola pridefully admires his work, reaching outward unafraid of the fires raging in front of him, for it is his work and what he believes as gods’ will.

Savonarola has taken command of Florence, and his rise to authority triggered the eradication of religious idolatry across various artistic forms in an event referred to as "The Bonfire of The Vanities" in art history. This led to the incineration of numerous artworks containing religious symbolism, as well as the destruction of literature that did not align with his or his disciples views.

Sandro Botticelli chose to create this piece as a statement against Savonarola and his decision to destroy any and all artwork with religious symbolism. He shows this through depicting Savonarola committing one of the Seven deadly sins; Pride by depicting Savonarola confidently reaching towards a massive bonfire; the bonfire representing “The Bonfires of The Vanities” proudly admiring his work and carrying out his idea of “god's will”.

Artist: Sandro Botticelli

Date of Display: 1498

Savonarola can be seen here, depicted as the replacement for Mary, holding her son; Jesus Christ. Gazing upon him lovingly, one may wonder if this is a statement for the Sin of Lust. The Answer simply lies in the face value details of the painting itself; Portraying a monk, a devoted follower of god and his teachings, holding and gazing upon his son lovingly, rather than letting Mary, Queen of Heaven and Mother of Christ, hold her son. This painting despite its purpose, received major backlash and almost wasn’t displayed however, Botticelli decided to display the painting alongside the other 5, explaining that Savonarola replacing Mary is sinful and an act of Lust rather than true love, for a devoted follower of god and a lover of Christ wouldn’t dare take Mary’s son from her lap.

Savonarola and his disciples have replaced the Medici Family in their rule over Florence, and his ascent to power resulted the abolishment and subsequent destruction of religious idolatry in a purge known throughout art history as "The Bonfire of The Vanities". This resulted in the eradication of numerous artworks featuring religious symbolism, along with the destruction of literature that did not conform to his or his disciples authoritarian views.

Sandro Botticelli chose to create this piece as a statement against Savonarola and his decision to destroy any and all artwork with religious symbolism. He shows this through depicting Savonarola committing one of the Seven deadly sins; Lust by replacing Mary as the “parental figure” of Christ.

Artist: Henri Matisse

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1905

This is a beautiful oil painting of Matisse's wife, Amelie posing for his masterpiece. In the first artwork, she wears clothing and a hat related to the renaissance and in this she still has the same clothes but wears a fruit covered hat. The "Woman with a Hat" was at the center of the controversy that led to the christening of the first modern art movement of the twentieth century - Fauvism. The term fauve ("wild beast"), coined by an art critic, became forever associated with the artists who exhibited their brightly colored canvases in the central gallery, the Grand Palais. Matisse was motivated to make the bright colors inspired by the same palette's as tropical fruit. During this time he first exhibited it at the Salon d'Automne in Paris surrounded by controversy as he and his contemporaries' avant-garde style was met with much criticism.

Artist: Jacques-Louis David

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1801-1805

In this painting, Napoleon Bonaparte is driving a motorcycle through the french alps instead of a horse instead of a horse. In May 1800, Napoleon led his troops across the Alps in a military campaign against the Austrians which ended in their defeat in June at the Battle of Marengo. Napoleon was conceptual, had big visions, and was a master strategist. He had to find a way to lead his army safely and quickly through the treacherous nature of the mountain terrain. David created this to show Napoleon has calculated the perfect route and to see his brilliant tactic. Its is just as magnificent as his first painting where through David's depiction, it unmistakably conveys the timeless notion of a man in control, with power over both himself and the natural world, the forces of destiny swirling around him.

Van Gogh 

Oil Paint 

Date:1888

Seeing Van Gogh taking a selfie of KFC fried chicken for dinner at the café. Seeing a comparison between the hair and the chicken has the same color. Other people outside minding their own business and seeing the window background have that image of the starry sky. On the table, he has that KFC smoothing with whipped cream on top and a coffee. Also back of Van Gogh, there's a painting of a landscape. 

Van Gogh used oil paint to use his artwork and show it for the public to see, although  oil used many ways then paint. It’s used for gas, cooking and more. Putting KFC great for this painting because KFC fried their chicken with oil. It’s tasty that I got hungry. During 600 B.C. Chinese were the first to discover oil. Then Pennsylvania also discovered it in 1859 and Spindletop discovery in Texas in 1901 and set a stage for the oil economy. Now it’s been spread to other countries to use oil. Until Oil painting was a good use to create something like Van Gogh paintings.

Jasper Johns

Retro Anime 

There’s a man wearing sunglasses while the sun is shining behind him. It looks like his forehead is getting sunburnt but at the same time muscular man. The Background looked like a comic scene where a guy is strong enough to walk in the hot sun. This reminds me of his artwork of alphabet colors. It all matches up really well.

Jasper Likes to express his artwork with something that makes a stand out to his artwork. Using sun-wears sunglasses is great for analyzing the thoughts of this artwork. Wearing sunglasses is great to use when you can’t find shades near you and Protects your eyes while you are going for a walk. Making Jasper America great again.

Jean Honored Fragonard

Watercolor   

Date:1767-1768

 Spiderman is playing the role of the swing girl By Jean Honored Fragonard. See that Spiderman is flirting with the bush also tilted looking at the ground to make sure he doesn’t fall. Although he might fall eventually by the background roof holder that is completely falling off from the ground. Putting Spiderman in this painting gives the prince instead of the princess to the story of this painting. Jean Honored create this work inspired by Spiderman fans out there and having super hero in this painting is worth it. The handsome Spiderman rose the popularity to the world.

Frida Kahlo 

Retro Futurism

It’s a snowman eating a snow cone. Frida made this snowman just like her with a flower on the side of her hat and a cute red scarf to keep the snowman look fancy and cultured.

Making this painting Retro Futurism makes Frida fascinating to the art. This matter that Snow cones are safe to eat. You can make snow cones in different flavors like strawberry and more. It’s better eat it during summer instead of winter. Knowing that this snowman needs to eat snow cones to keep the temperature good and alive. To this day during summer stores put shaved ice scream or snow cone to keep our body cool and delicious.

Mix Punk

A Man is getting food but it doesn’t look like he is getting food. He looks like he is about to throw some hands to the guy that looks innocent and is holding the bowl handle for him. This man is muscular as well as the other guy too. The background looks plane black and I’m guessing this place at the museums with the light shining through them. Choosing this is a funny sculpture because this can relate to guy who fights about food. Michelangelo can see that by making art sculpture. I think this year they can make this as a hobby of wrestling.

Artist: Hyacinthe Rigaud

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1647

In this painting, Hyacinthe Rigaud depicts future king Louis XIV as a young child waking up to the morning sun.

As a young monarch, he had a commanding presence and exuded confidence and a sureness of himself as the future ruler of France.

Later as the king of France, he titled himself the “Sun King,” to symbolize his status as the center of the universe; his haughtiness, believing that the world revolves around him. 

King Louis XIV was the most powerful monarch in 17th century Europe. One of his greatest projects was transforming an old hunting lodge into the palace of Versailles. He had his bedroom aligned with the morning sun, so when the sun rose in the morning, so too did the king; further emphasizing himself as the heart of the cosmos.

Impressed with Rigaud’s work, King Louis XIV hired him as the Painter of the King who later painted the famous portrait of Louis XIV.

Meduim: Oil Paint

Artist: Artemisia Gentileschi

Date: 1615

Artemisia Gentileschi is pictured here as the pope. In her time, she was brutally raped and later tried in the courts. After being violated by a close family friend, she was tortured for eight months by the courts. And, after that long and arduous time, they finally found her oppressor guilty. By then, she was angry, tired, and vengeful. We see these emotions throughout her evocative art.

Throughout her art career, she painted a lot of brutal scenes with men dying by her hand or by another woman’s. So, in this piece, Artemisia is the pope and can make executive decisions. For example, one could imagine she would have a say in the trial process and change how they retrieve information from people. This piece is a self-portrait, as that was her forte. Made in the baroque style of art, we can see her heavy use of tenebrism. Through this technique, her features are illuminated, and her silhouette is strengthened creating a beautiful contrast of color and value.

Artemisia also thoroughly enjoyed re-creating female heroines from the Old Testament in her art. So, she rendered herself as the pope in this self-portrait because who better to achieve justice?  

Artist: Salvador Dali

Medium: Painting

Date: 1965

This is an ocelot. His name is Babou. He is captured in this aesthetically pleasing yet confusing surreal piece by Salvador Dalí. His name is Babou, and he was a real ocelot that Dali owned and befriended. Babou was very often taken around with Dali to restaurants, galleries, and even on the covers of Life magazine. Salvador Dalí claimed to have received the Colombian ocelot from the head of the state of Colombia. Whether or not this is a true fact is uncertain.

The painting itself follows most of Dali’s other surreal paintings with confusing imagery, but he was a pioneer of the style; he was even quoted as saying, “The difference between me and the surrealists is that I am a surrealist." Dali wanted to portray what the unconscious and subconscious desired. One of which was this painting of none other than his favorite furry friend, Babou. A grand piece showing off human-animal relations, wild and domesticated, terrifying and beautiful.

Artist: Louis William Wain

Medium: Drawing

Date: 1887

Louis William Wain was famous for his obsession with cats, depicting them in anthropomorphic ways that people liked. Though his obsession came from a dark place, as most things do, Wain had his beloved wife Emily Richardson's three-year' marriage cut short due to Emily falling sick due to breast cancer. While bedridden, Louis began drawing pictures of their adopted cat, Peter, to cheer her up. Once his wife passed, Louis continued his “Cat style” and was loved for the works he made. He developed a “Cat society, a whole cat world.”

Some proclaimed him schizophrenic for his obsessions with cats and how he made them people, like demoting his art to “Crazy Cat Man." His sisters declared him insane and admitted him to the Springfield Mental Hospital, where he continued to produce works that he would give to his sisters to sell. This piece in particular was made just a year after the passing of his wife, showing Peter laying in bed missing his mom Emily and really how Wain missed her too.

Artist: Jacob Jordaens

Medium: oil painting

Date: 1632

Jacob Jordaens was a Flemish painter from Antwerp, Belgium, and was heavily inspired by the Baroque style of painting. He was renowned for his vibrant colors and depictions of everyday life, mythology, and religious themes. Here he painted a cat beside a mouse with a dark background with the use of Tenebroso lighting.

During Jacob’s life, Antwerp experienced a surge in financial and commercial benefits alongside artistic and cultural advancements, gaining a reputation as one of the most important trading centers in Europe. In this specific piece, Jacob paints this cat as a general appraisal or thank you to felines, as at the time they were kept domestically in homes and businesses to control the vermin population, the rise of respect for cats rose alongside the prosperity of Antwerp. Jordaens' choice to immortalize this cat not only shows the practicality of these domestic friends but also the symbiotic relationship between daily life and nature.

Artist: Wassily Kandinsky

Medium: Painting

Date: 1910

Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian painter from Moscow. He originally started his career as a lawyer at the University of Moscow, studying law and economics. He was successful in his profession and became a law educator. Despite his success, Kandinsky changed his passion and decided to attend art school.

He began his own painting career with regular works and pieces, but it wasn't until, supposedly, one day, seeing one of his own paintings hanging upside down in his studio that he saw the potential in abstraction. His significance in making abstract pieces made him a pioneer in the style, creating the world’s first truly abstract paintings. Domestic Orange was painted with Kandinsky’s Cat as inspiration. This piece in particular highlighted a transition period, where the world seemed to still be there but was hazing as his works became more and more abstract over time. With his ambition growing, he went on to incorporate “sound through sight and create the painterly equivalent of a symphony."

Tittle: “The swing”

Artist:Jean-honoré Fragonard

Medium:Oil paint

Date:1767

This painting of a horse on a swing is a classic painting of Fragonard. Even though it has a twisted yet secretive story behind it. The viewer wouldn’t notice that this painting was a masterpiece of a secret forbidden love. “A secret man of the court requested that Fragonard represent his mistress being pushed on a swing while he secretly admired her, hidden below.”I find it funny that this beautiful pink horse can be so daring. I think that horses are kind of detectives because according to Quira “Animals can know when a person is having an affair because they have the scent of the other one.” To conclude, this is one of my favorite paintings so far and I think it’s clever. Who would have come up with “A horse in a swing”? 

Artist:Rembrandt

Medium: Oil paint on oak panel 

Date:1640

This is a portrait of Doomer During the 1640’s. I honestly found this art kind of boring because it’s just showing off his masculinity and in a way his wealth. However, in my research I found out that according to Springer link “Seventeenth-century England witnessed an increasing interest in pet keeping, initially confined to the aristocracy but later extending to the expanding middle class. The keeping of cats as pets was still unusual except for a small group of intellectuals, artists, writers, and clerics. By the eighteenth century, prominent intellectuals such as Samuel Johnson and Horace Walpole were well known as cat lovers, adding respectability to this choice of pet.” Many people that were in the middle class had the opportunity to brag about having a cat is a  sign of being stable economically. I can’t get enough of this painting it’s perfectly satisfactory in a sense that it goes well with the original portrait of HermanDoomer.

Artist: Jean-Honoré Fragonard

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1772

In this beautiful painting, Miss Kate Sharma, and Viscount Anthony Bridgerton are depicted as two secret lovers walking together in the gardens in the Rococo.

After the death of Louis XIV, the French aristocracy flocked to Paris to enjoy the pleasure of city life, and a new art style, called Rococo, started trending. It included artwork illustrations with delicate ornamental patterns, privileged and pampered lifestyle, and lighthearted subject matter.

Here, Fragonard creates another playful scene.

Private gardens were very common in the Rococo. Often situated in private country estates, it was then far less of a formal arena, but it rather provided a more intimate setting. These gardens were safe havens from the restrictions of elite society, with the rules of how to act ‘proper’ and maintain virtue. These hidden alcoves therefore allowed for these two young lovers to spend time together freely, free of chaperones and strict supervision.

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh

Medium: Oil painting

Date: 1887

This is a cityscape painting by Vincent Van Gogh. Despite the picturesque nature, this painting is filled with a lot of negativity. Although his brushstrokes are even, his color palate indicates his anger and frustration. In his letters to his brother Theo, Van Gogh writes about how he can track his mood by the colors he uses: How red shows his animosity towards the subject, or how a certain hue of blue indicates his sadness and depression. Vincent was an expressionist and would often take artistic license in creating his own painterly realities based on how he felt. For example, the red sky and the rendering of the moon. 

This painting is of a big city in France that he painted to become more acquainted with city life. While he was living in Paris, he felt very isolated and did not respond to the lifestyle there whatsoever. He was born a country boy and loved living as one. Personally, I can connect with Van Gogh on that level, because although the cities are great art epicenters, I much prefer the comfort and beauty of the country.  

Title: Angel Of Boulders

Artist: Leonardo Da Vinci

Medium: Oil Painting

Date:1483

In this painting, Leonardo Da Vinci is representing how a virgin angel is sitting on a set of big boulders representing a blessing that is about to occur.

As he depicted on the illustrations of this painting he intended to approach us with a different styled look . A more graceful and natural looking way of painting for those times back in the day . Distinguishing a more accurate way of grasping us into the human anatomy.

Leonardo Da Vinci had referenced this meeting , that God was going to place an orphan to take into her own care. The landscape he choose to draw,these spontaneous mountains portrays where this holy group should end up meeting which has been modeled. Including his own Native Tuscan Landscape relating to where he had been born from .

Artist:Artemisia Gentileschi 

Medium:Oil painting 

Date:1610-1615

This painting is somewhat disturbing. The story behind it, it’s strong yet meaningful to some women who had gone through the same circumstances as Artemisia. First of all, the loyalty/respect  Salome had for her it’s one of a kind. Am I right? To do something that extreme, it takes a lot of effort. However, in this painting you can see that Salome is handing Artemisia the head of the jack-o'-lantern man. According to National Geographic “The 18th-century Irish folktale of Stingy Jack, an unsavory fellow often said to be a blacksmith who had a fondness for mischief and booze. Dozens of versions abound, but one recurring storyline is that Stingy Jack tricked the devil twice. When Jack died, he found himself barred from heaven—and from hell. But the devil took some pity on Jack, giving him an ember of coal to light his turnip lantern as he wandered between both places for eternity—again inspiring the nickname Jack-of-the-Lantern, or jack-o’-lantern.” These two stories unite. To conclude, this explains that after what occurred the head of Saint John the Baptist was a way of loyalty/respect towards Artemisia’s mother. 

Artist: Leonardo Da Vinci

Medium: oil painting

Year: 1498

Da Vinci, being a popular realism paintier depicted his rendition of the youth in STEM. The new invention of the microscope was a big talk of the time. Da Vinci strived for all children receiving education and using tools to their advantage.

Da Vinci here depicts a child using the new invention of the microscope. In the early 16th century realism was shown a lot throughout art history to depict scene truthfully. Da Vinci, the Italian artist appreciated new technology and advancements in education and art.

Microscope symbolize looking into the details and small parts of something. Realism focused on portraying accurate scenes through details and expressions. Realism art and microscopes can be related in the way they both are used to depict something as 'truthful.'

Title: The Swinging loyalist

Artist :Jean Honored Fragonard

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1767

Roosters that are being represented in this painting swinging , over a beautiful view of a clear blue lake . Are taking over the place of the female drawn in Jean Honored Fragonard paintings .You can see how there are roosters who seem to be swinging on the set of swings outside .

Rooster’s seemed to have been a religious symbol to the French people”.The Revolution established the rooster as the representation of the Nation’s identity”. This started at beginning of the renaissance Hope and faith was the sign given to them by these roosters .

After world War the patriotic sentiment made the Gallic Rooster “the symbol of France’s resistance and bravery in the face of the Prussian eagle.”To be able to represent an animal that brought in a bit of this artist’s personal background was pretty interesting!

Title: The Ruler

Artist : Leonardo Da Vinci

Medium: Oil Painting

Date :1503

Rosa Parks is a very well known person in our history . This gorgeous piece that was created by Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the most popular pieces of art made. The Mona lisa has been very revolving throughout the years that have passed. Displaying such explicit piece of work for such time period was so extraordinary.

Leonardo Da Vinci takes Rosa Parks and flops her out with the Mona Lisa in this displayed art. Rosa Parks had a great say in our American history. The way she changed out history was outstanding!. Rosa Parks was known as a women with no fear, willing to stand with her rights. The sense Leonardo Da Vinci had while painting the Mona Lisa was to paint anything linking to the link connecting human to Nature.

Rosa parks was Truly known as a black female. She had struggled with racial equality when she refused to give her seat on a bus to a white man . Being called “the mother of the civil rights movement”.Symbolizing the way these 2 amazing people left behind such say in our world . Depicting themselves either through the form of art or speaking up some other way as long as the message is received.

Artist:William Hogarth 

Medium:oil paint 

Date:1743

In this painting the duque is replaced with a magnetic giraffe. That is the opposite of what he really is. According to the National Gallery “Two fiddle cases lie on top of one another on an overturned chair, suggesting that the Viscountess has been spending the evening in activities more intimate than simply playing whist. The drawing room is a battleground for the silent dislike between the couple and the disharmony of their possessions. The steward of the household rolls his eyes up to heaven as he exits with a wad of unpaid bills.” In this chaotic living room lies a mysterious secret of an affair between two people and the only one who knows it's the loyal dog. To conclude, this painting honestly became a zoo but after a few tries it was honestly the best one yet and so it went well with the original and even though they don’t even look like animals they look like mysterious creatures. While the viscountess has a card night  the viscount was “Tired” after a night out. 

Artist: John Constable

Medium: Oil painitng

Date: 1807

Here depicts John Constable's romantic painting of John Lena warming up with some jump rope. John Lena, the well known athlete and actor is preparing for his wrestling match. Jumping rope is a good way to get your whole body warmed up and ready. Constable chose to portray John Cena in this painting because of the similar scenes depicted in Cena's new movie "Freelance." This made the painting more interesting and relevant to viewers, while marketing the movie "Freelance" and boosting up ticket sales.

John Constable is known for his romantic landscapes. So of course John Lena has to be in nature jumping the rope. Romantic art highlighted the new interest in psychology and personal expression through artwork.

Faith being such a dominant force in everyone's lives, made some question the religious and unknown. Through romanticism, artists were able to express how they felt and use emotion over reason. Romantic art highlighted perfect scenes, in contrast to realistic art that was more focused on portraying truthful scenes.

Artist: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

Medium: Oil painting

Date: 1599

In. Caravaggio's Italian Baroque painting style he depicts a Queen eating grapes. "Feed me Grapes" is a saying typically ones of Royalty or wealth say to the people under them. Here, the queen is feeding herself grapes. Showing early acts of feminism. The Queen does not need anyone to feed her grapes because she can do it herself.

Baroque paintings highlight culture and art with pearl-like colors. Baroque emphasizes dramatic motions and exaggerated expressions. It is highly ornate and uses deep contrasts of light and dark.

Caravaggio choses to depict the Queen feeding herself grapes here as a sign of feminism. He depicts early signs of feminism in many of his works, especially "Judith Beheading Holofernes" a painting where a woman is beheading a man. This was untypical to be show at the time, and this painting now sells for tens of millions of dollars, partly because of the new ideas and portrayls for the time.

Artist: Claude Monet

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1877

French painter, Claude Monet, uses a more loose and sketchy style in his paintings; sketching pictures in plein air– based on optically direct observation, which all was very typical of the impressionist art era at the time.

Monet painted a series of the Gare St. Lazare Railway Station in France. The steam locomotive was one of the most significant outputs of the industrial revolution (which had concluded c. 1840), making travel faster, and easier transport of people from the country to the city. Painting the trains as the subject of his series of paintings, was an intentional choice of Monet’s as he was fascinated with “modernity” (a generation of its own innovations). It also reflected the progress of the technological advancements of the world and its inventions.

Monet showed keen artistic abilities as a child and attended Le Havre school of arts to dive into his interests and pursue his art career. But at the same time, deeply rooted in his heart, he had an affinity for magic and the supernatural. Here, in this painting, he draws upon his childhood dream, painting The Enchanted Track; with is not just any ordinary train in the station, but the Hogwarts Express train; conveying that if it would even be a possibility in his lifetime, he would surely ride on this train to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry instead.

Unfortunately Van Gogh died only a few months after painting this but this painting shows just how much he loved his family.

Artist: Duccio Di Buoninsegna

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1300

Duccio Di Buoninsegna, created such fascination art work that’s still around today. Considering to be one of the greatest ever Italian painters in the middle ages. Making the viewer envision, the love a mother has towards her child, as he’s being held by her.

Giving us an envision on how the Madonna and her Christ child seemed very powerful for acknowledging the observer . A real life, version of a mother and son depicted in a portrait.

The 1300s was known for a time of harsh times. Poverty was out the roofs, peasants trying to make their best out of what they got . Unfortunately many children at that time around 50% were around a survival rate after the age of 1.

A beautiful pregnant woman being shown in white and orange drapes. Sitting in a squatted position, carrying a dog on her lap. The dog seems to be hugging her and her soon to be newborn. The dog is protecting her, guiding and showing love to her as if it was a child of her own.

Artist: Leonardo Da Vinci

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1450

Leonardo Da Vinci has many art pieces that he’s created throughout time. From being known as an inspirational person with outrageous creative ideas. Before the painting came along he had other ideas of a lifestyle. Painter an engineer, architect even a musician.

Evidence that is to be proven showing that Leonardo Da Vinci was an “amateur” musician. Wasn’t quit a shock that music was a hobby of his own . It was said that music was a powerful way of expressing emotions and communicating to each other back then and now. They say he had interest in music as a scientist interested in natural phenomena. “Using close observation, Leonardo explored how sounds moved through different kinds of materials”. Considering himself to be know as the Renaissance artist as well at the time in 1490s. Such great works done in the right form of math and engineering.

Artist : Frida Kahlo

Model: Oil Painting

Date: 1926

Frida Kahlo is known to be one of the most famous Mexican painters with brilliant colored self portraits. Frida Kahlo grew up during the Mexican revolution, which was pretty hard with all those political situations going on in our country. A life-changing accident at 18 broke some of her bones, having lie down for a long time. Prior to the accident, she had planned on studying medicine to become a doctor. The directions of the accident, let her to a new beginning of wanting to become an artist.

In this painting, I’m trying to demonstrate a version of Frida Kahlo, in a more human realistic angel . Stating that art historians classify her as the magical realism she was trying to depict the world using this style of literature in Art.

Not just any regular art, but somethings so much different, of a painting, depictingdepicting her self or anything around her.

Frida Kahlo’s work continues to grow as she held deeper meanings and related challenges throughout her art.

Artist: Edvard Munch

Medium: Oil Paint

Date: 1893

Painted by the Norwegian artist in 1893, the Scream represents anxiety - a common human condition. The background is a variety of colors that are very loud which can cause anxiety. There are three ostriches seen screaming. Ostriches are known to be anxiety ridden animals. He said that only a madman can paint such a painting, so too, ostriches are rather mad. Especially when they run around in a crazy way. The story behind this painting is that he had a panic attack and sketched this out. He was running around with anxiety like an ostrich. He saw himself in the ostrich.

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh

Medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1888

It is seen that Vincent Van Gogh liked painting the scenes at night. The starry nights being the most famous of all. He liked the nightlife and probably spent much time in it. He has painted a cafe at night before but this piece is different. It is of a nightclub he would go to and drink in between his asylum visits. You can see many people in the club. One being the prostitute Rachel whom he later gives his ear to. Van Gogh painted this in 1888. His colors are very calming which is in contrast to the busy scene.

Title: The Persistence of Dreams

Artist: Salvador Dali

Medium: Oil Paint

Date: 1931

The Persistence of memory by Salvador Dali is an iconic piece that many of us know. It is often interpreted as a surrealist meditation on the fluidity and volatility of time. It challenges conventional “hard objects” like clocks by rendering them as soft, melting forms, shaking our usual understanding of time. The iconography may refer to a dream that Dali himself had experienced, and the clocks may symbolize the passing of time as one experiences it in sleep or the persistence of time in the eyes of the dreamer. The whole painting looks as if it takes place in dreams and sleep. Sheep are associated with sleep since the old theory that counting them helps induce sleep. That is why they are shown in his painting.  

Artist: Eugene Delacroix

Medium: Oil Paint

Date: 1830

Eugène Delacroix made one of the most famous paintings of all time. Created in 1830, Liberty Leading the People was born. It commemorated the July revolution of 1830, which toppled King Charles X. It depicts a woman personifying liberty leading the people forward over the dead bodies of the fallen. This painting is a propaganda piece. There are so many emotions going on everywhere but the most common one seen is strength. Even through all the death, they came out on top. The giant eagle soaring through the sky above her is there to symbolize freedom and strength. An eagle is seen as a powerful animal with those meanings.

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh

medium: Oil Painting

Date: 1856

Vincent van Gogh was known to not have good mental health and struggled greatly. He often went to asylums and worked in between manic episodes. He used beautiful colors and captured the beauty of the night sky and flowers. One of his lesser known paintings shows a skeleton smoking and seems to be a darker painting compared to the rest of his work. But sometimes he liked to combine his two sides which we see in this painting. We see how he saw beauty even in dark times. How there is always dark with the light and vice versa. How he shows this is the dark skeleton in a field of flowers.

Artist: Leonardo DaVinci

Medium: Oil Paint

Date: 1503

The Mona Lisa is the most well known painting in the world to ever exist. There is almost no one who has not heard or/ and seen it. It was painted by Leonardo Davinci, an extremely well known artist who will forever be remembered. It has been described as “the best known, the most visited, and the most written about, the most sung about, etc. This painting is of a woman who is expressionless. We can not tell if she is happy or not, smiling or not. She is shown sitting with some shrimp who also have no expressions or emotion.

Artist: Raphael 

Medium: Fresco 

Date: 1515

In this Fresco commissioned by Pope Julius II, Rapheal depicts owls sitting in a large room that resembles the new saint peter vault. The group of owls are seated across the room having an intellectual discussion amongst themselves. In this group of owls, there are many knowledgeable and intelligent owls discussing and sharing new ideas and philosophies. Owls are most known for symbolizing knowledge and wisdom. Rafeal uses many techniques in the fresco to captivate the audience allowing us to see, and hear the owls talking to each other.  Many of these owls are philosers, scientists and abstract thinkers that have had a great influence on the world around them in the 15th century. 

Artist:  Leonardo Da Vinci

Medium: Ink 

Date: 1500

This drawing was created by Leonardo Da Vinci at a time when robots were taking over existence, and much of what was known as humans and nature was now replaced by machines and robots. As we see in the drawing, a robot in the shape of a human is being depicted to convey the idea that this is the new “nature” that exists at this time and will continue to take over. Leonardo Da Vini is best known for his interest in and knowledge of science and art. He was a big believer that these were closely related to one another, which influenced many of his artwork. He drew what he saw exactly how we saw it, and what he saw during this time was a scientific robot. 

Artist: Albrecht Dürer

Medium: Watercolor 

Date: 1503

This watercolor painting by the Northern artist Albrecht Dürer depicts a beautiful nature scene. During this time in Germany in the 1500s, religious artwork was banned because the idea of worshiping a religious image was no longer encouraged. This led Albrecht Dürer and many other artists to explore new ideas in art. He had a love for nature and believed that everything in nature should be valued because it was made by God. This idea led to his creation of the Butterfly Garden, which illustrates in great detail a garden surrounding a path attracting many butterflies. His use of watercolor also reflected his fascination with nature. 

Artist: Jacques Louis David

Medium: Oil Painting 

Date: 1801

With the surge in Romanticism in the 18th century, many artworks were commissioned to paint the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. In this oil painting, Jacques Louis David depicts Napoleon as a cat riding another cat leading his army crossing the Alps at Saint Bernard pass. Cats are known as fierce, bold, and intelligent animals. Depicting the cat as a heroic and confident figure adds to the depth and symbol of the artwork. Romanticism values emphasizing emotion and the dark side of human nature, which was commonly reflected in the artwork created for him. He wanted these commissioned artworks of him to glorify him, depicting him as powerful and robust. 

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh

Medium: Oil Painting 

Date: 1889

This beautiful scenic oil painting depicts a sunrise at a river by the artist Vincent Van Gogh, known for his famous painting style during the post-expressionist movement. He focused on painting what he felt instead of what he saw, using deep, rich colors and visible brushstrokes. The use of exaggeration and distortion was also commonly used in his artwork. He is most famous for his painting The Starry Night. The second part of this painting depicts the sun rising slowly, bringing in light. This painting gives us a sense of hope with the sun rising and giving us light in the day.

Artist: Fra Filippo Lippi

Medium: Oil Painting 

Date: 1440

During the 1400s Renaissance, religion had a significant influence on many artworks. A common theme during this time was the depiction of the Madonna and child. This painting depicts a woman carrying her kitten, whom she sees as her child. Fra Filippo Lippi portrays the woman's wealth through the rich blue color in her clothing, which is a common concept in many of his artworks. In this painting, the baby is replaced by a kitten. He may have wanted to paint this image to capture the relationship and love between a wealthy woman and her kitten, emphasizing humanism and naturalism.