“A man enjoys the happiness he feels, a woman the happiness she gives.

” — Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, Les Liaisons dangereuses. Frédéric Soulacroix, The Afternoon Visitor, 19th century, Private collection. #art #rococo #baroque #painting #corset

Isotta Brembati Grumelli (c.

1530—1586) was an Italian poet and countess. She was fluent in Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, and Italian. Giovanni Battista Moroni, Isotta Brembati Grumelli, c. 1548-50, Accademia Carrara, Bergamo @accademia_carrara #art #artlovers #moroni #portraitpainting #baroque

Painted only two years before the great Irish artist’s death, The Lady in White, Viscountess Wimborne is a bravura example of Sir John Lavery’s (1856—1941) work as a portraitist.

The work depicts Alice Katherine Sibell Grosvenor, the daughter of Robert Wellesley Grosvenor, 2nd Baron Ebury, and the wife of ... ещё

Antoine Vollon (1833—1900) was a French realist artist.

Born in Lyon, the son of an ornamental craftsman, Vollon was initially apprenticed to an engraver in metal. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon from 1850 to 1853 under the engraver Vibert, and worked as a decorator of ... ещё

The painter Louis Tocqué (1696—1772) was accepted into the French Académie Royale in 1734.

His work was highly sought after at that time. He was much admired for his ability to evoke an informal atmosphere, while nevertheless meticulously rendering his sitter’s sumptuous clothing and accessories. Arnoldus van Rijneveld’s fashionable ... ещё

Born in Haarlem, Barend van der Meer (1659–1703) came from a family of artists and he became famous for his beautiful still-life paintings of fruits, flowers, exotic animals and wealthy objects.

In 1683, Barend moved to Amsterdam following his marriage and established a reputation in the competitive art ... ещё

Fredericka, was a German noblewoman and member of the House of Wettin.

Her fashionable brocaded silk gown, woven with a silver thread ground and large scale patterns, heavy fruit and flower forms is typical of the 1730s and 40s. The darker colour combinations seen here are more frequently found ... ещё

German artist Johann Wilhelm Preyer (1803—1889) specialized in wonderfully detailed still lifes, such as this one, and looked back to Dutch Old Master paintings, drawing on their unique compositional elements and range of rich and cool colors.

He even employed similar “vanitas” motifs, such as the housefly perched on ... ещё

Margherita Gonzaga (1591—1632) was Duchess of Lorraine from 1606 until 1624 by marriage to Henry II, Duke of Lorraine.

Frans Pourbus the Younger, Portrait de Margherita Gonzaga, duchesse de Lorraine, Private collection. Sold for €65,000 via Artcurial in November 2020 @artcurial__ #art #arthistory #portrait #royals #claireobscure