Jules Pascin and Hermine David & Friend

'Hermine David and Friend' (1914) by Jules Pascin; Private Collection

I'm reading Ernest Hemingway's 'A Moveable Feast' at the moment and one of the chapters is called 'With Pascin at the Dôme'. Hemingway was a good friend of Jules Pascin and describes his encounter with Pascin in cafe the Dôme in his book. So when I read that Jules Pascin was born on 31 March 1885 (in Bulgaria), I knew I had found my painter for today's post. Pascin studied painting in Vienna, Munich and Berlin. In 1905, he moved to Paris where he became a member of a circle of artists that frequented the cafe the Dôme and the studios of Montparnasse. He was a central figure of the School of Paris (École de Paris). At the outbreak of World War I, he went to the United States and became a US citizen. He suffered from depression and struggled with alcoholism. At the age of 45, being severely depressed, he committed suicide by slitting his wrists and hanging himself in his studio in Montmartre. He is renowned for his sensitive studies of women and combines Expressionism and Cubism in his art. I think he is in the same league as Modigliani who also was his friend. I really like the painting shown here. It looks like a drawing but it is oil on canvas.

Vincent van Gogh and Almond Blossom

'Almond Blossom' (1890) by Vincent van Gogh; Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

If I have to choose between Van Gogh, born on March 30, 1853, and Rembrandt, I'll choose Rembrandt any day because there are many of Rembrandt's paintings that I find beautiful. There are not many paintings of Van Gogh that I find truly beautiful, but I will come back to the Almond Blossom over and over again. It's beautiful in colour and even though there is so much merchandising in the shop of the Van Gogh Museum that you could easily get fed up with the painting, it never loses its beauty for me. There is no museum in the world that I have visited so many times as the Van Gogh Museum (I live in Amsterdam and my sister works there). They have great exhibitions and their exhibition space is superb. And I always go and see the Almond Blossom whenever I'm there. It's a painting that makes me happy. I also like the fact that Vincent painted this for his new-born nephew, the son of his beloved brother Theo. It's a shame though that it is not on display in the museum at the moment since it's part of an exhibition in Philadelphia and later on in Ottowa, Canada. It will be back on display in The Netherlands coming 29 September when part of the collection of the Van Gogh Museum (then temporarily closed due to renovations) will be seen in the Hermitage, Amsterdam.

Georges Seurat and A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte

'A Sunday afternoon on the island of La Grande Jatte' (1884-86) by Georges Seurat; The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

Sometimes it's nice to find a well-known painter being a match for a certain date and know that you don't have to look any further. Georges Seurat, born on December 2, 1859, and died on March 29, 1891, is not a painter whose overall work I particularly like because I don't like Pointillism very much. But this painting shown here, which I got to know doing a course in art history some years ago, stands out. It's a large-scale work, measuring approximately 2 by 3 meters, and considered to be Seurat's most famous work. The reason why I like this painting is because of the colours and because it's such a relaxed scene. I also think there's something static in the work which I like. Almost as if the people are frozen in time. Which would be nice because who wouldn't want to keep enjoying such a nice and lazy Sunday afternoon on the island of La Grande Jatte?

Jan van der Heyden and The Dam with the New Town Hall in Amsterdam

'The Dam with the New Town Hall in Amsterdam' (1668) by Jan van der Heyden; Musée du Louvre, Paris

Finally a painter I'm familiar with. When you say Jan van der Heyden, born on 5 March 1637 and died on 28 March 1712, I think of his Amsterdam paintings. Just a quick note on his date of death: it's beyond me why the English Wikipedia page names 12 September 1712 as his date of death, whereas the Dutch page says 28 March, also here it says the 28th of March, and Dutch websites mention that 300 years ago today Jan van der Heyden died. Anyway, I chose Van der Heyden because I like his Amsterdam paintings. I live in Amsterdam and it always amazes me how much of the image above is still there. Van der Heyden moved with his family to Amsterdam around 1650 and was a witness to the fire in the old town hall. It made a deep impression on him. So he had been fascinated with fire fighting ever since he was a boy. He is often credited with the invention of the fire hose and was put in charge of the fire brigade. He was a skilled landscape painter and his most important works were painted between 1660 and 1670. He died in wealth, still owning most of his work.

Joseph-Marie Vien and The Cupid Seller

'The Cupid Seller' (1763) by Joseph-Marie Vien; Musée National Château de Fontainebleau, Fontainebleau

The depiction of today's painting made me laugh. I simply had to show you this art work of French painter Joseph-Marie Vien, born on June 18, 1716, and died on March 27, 1809. Vien was a former teacher of Jacques-Louis David and considered to be of great importance to Neoclassical art. He created a sensation at the 1763 Salon with the painting shown here. It was based on an ancient Roman wall painting. The women wear dresses reminiscent of classical sculptures and the setting is a classical interior. Cupids were very popular in the 18th century and used frequently in paintings. Vien wanted to imply the idea of bought sexual pleasure. The cupids in the vendor's basket seem harmless infants but the little one held up by the salesgirl seems to hold its forearm in a provocative manner. Anyway, whatever Vien meant with this painting, I think it's cute and funny and I like the colours of the painting very much.

Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld and Bathsheba

'Bathsheba at her bath' (1820-25) by Julius Schnorr von Carelsfeld; can't find location

It was a bit difficult to find a painting for today. Not many that I really liked. Then I came across the German painter Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, born on 26 March 1794. He was a member of the Nazarene movement, a group of German Romantic painters 'who aimed to revive honesty and spirituality in Christian art' (quote from the Wikipedia page). The formation of the movement was a reaction against Neoclassicism and their aim was to restore the purity of form found in Renaissance art. Most of their work had biblical themes. I chose this painting of Bathsheba (with a strong Neoclassical influence!) because I think it is beautiful and I was curious about the story behind it. My biblical knowledge leaves a lot to be desired. And I was wondering about the man on the rooftop! Well, he is David and the story of his seduction of Bathsheba is told in 2 Samuel 11. He was walking on the roof of his palace and saw Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, bathing. He desired her and made her pregnant. If you want to know the full story, either grab the bible or click here.

Wilhelm Marstrand and Portrait of Johanne Luise Heiberg

'Portrait of Johanne Luise Heiberg' (1858-9) by Wilhelm Marstrand; The Museum of National History, Frederiksborg Castle, Hillerød

Another Danish painter that I had never heard of. Wilhelm Marstrand, born on 24 December 1810 and died on 25 March 1873, is apparently one of the most renowned artists of the Golden Age of Danish Painting. He was a painter and illustrator who traveled throughout Europe and lived in Italy. He painted depictions of everyday Italian life with a romantic and idealised view. He continued to travel abroad in search of inspiration. His stay in Venice in 1853-4 became important because he started to understand the handling of colours better by studying the Venetian masters. He turned to religious and historical themes. The painting shown here is a portrait of the famous Danish actress Johanne Luise Heiberg, one of his best paintings and painted after his stay in Venice.

Frank Weston Benson and Still Life with Flowers

'Still life with flowers' (1922) by Frank Weston Benson; Private Collection?

When you google Frank Weston Benson's name, an American Impressionist painter, born on the 24th of March, 1862, you will find plenty of paintings that I might like. As you must know by now, I prefer portraits over landscapes and still lifes, and Benson has done some fine woman portraits. The reason that I chose this still life is that I hardly ever come across a still life with flowers that I like. So even though I like this woman's portrait very much, I think it would be nice not to post a portrait again. I like this still life with flowers because I like a simple flower arrangement like this, as well as the glass vase and ceramic saucer. This is something that you could see in my interior. But then I also like the way Benson has put this image to the paper (it's water colour on paper). I like the brightness of the painting and the way the light in the glass catches your eye. I couldn't find its location though but I have a feeling it's in private hands since it's been for sale at this gallery. Or maybe it hasn't sold yet. I wouldn't mind having it.

Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin and the Naked Young Man Sitting by the Sea

'The naked young man sitting by the sea' (1836) by Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin; Musée du Louvre, Paris

Finally a painting that I know, even though for a long time I was under the impression that Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres was the painter. This is a very well-known painting, I think even among non-art lovers. The painter's name is Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin and he was born on March 23, 1809. It's not that strange that I thought that Ingres was the artist of this painting. Flandrin was his pupil and he adhered closely to the purity and fine lines that Ingres used in his work. Flandrin also turned to classical themes and subjects like Ingres. The only thing that distinguished Flandrin from his master were his studies of male youth, studies that were suggestively homoerotic. I decided to post this famous painting of the male nude because I wanted to post a well-known painting and I think it's truly beautiful. But I was also tempted to post a woman's portrait because I think Flandrin's women's portraits are exquisite. Actually, just like those of Ingres. They're very fine and detailed. Almost like a digital painting. See how beautiful and fine this portrait is.

Richard E. Miller and the Plaid Skirt

'The Plaid Skirt' (date not found) by Richard Emil Miller; Private Collection?

Richard Emil Miller, born on March 22, 1875, was according to his Wikipedia page 'a major American Impressionist painter and a member of the famous Giverny Colony of American Impressionists'. I had never heard of him nor of the Giverny Colony. I googled his name and images and there were lots of images of women in beautiful dresses (or no dresses at all). Scrolling down the page, this painting caught my eye because of the colours and the chequered skirt. But I could easily have chosen another one since there were many paintings that I like. So again, I am happy to add this painter to my ever growing list of painters unknown to me. Miller studied art in his hometown St. Louis but went to France to study in Paris. He stayed there for 16 years and became a leading member of the Giverny Colony. This was a group of US Impressionist painters who lived near the village of Giverny in the 1880s and worked in the countryside. Miller's paintings show women seated at a table in a room or in a garden. The title of the painting shown here is 'The plaid skirt'. I discovered the title after being drawn to the image because of the plaid skirt. I didn't find a date for the painting nor its location but it must be in private hands. It sold at an auction for $314,000. See here and here for auction details.