Acrylic paint

Sunday February 26th, 2017 , Schools & Periods

ACRYLIC PAINT

The technological progress in the production of colours has developed over the centuries and has allowed the development of new artistic movements.
For the Impressionists the invention of tubes of acrylic paint which could be easily carried was fundamental; and thanks to the invention of acrylic paint Pop Art and Abstract Expressionism allowed the creation of new images.

Acrylic paint is a new invention and its success depends on its ease of use.
The commercial offer offers practically endless possibilities of use, and to get an idea of how many products are now available, all you have to do is have a look at the website artecreo.it.

In this post I’ll tell you when acrylic paint developed and which advantages offers.
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The Barbizon School

Thursday February 23rd, 2017 , Schools & Periods

Théodore Rousseau, Albero di Quercia, Apremont (1850–1852). Image source. Wikipedia.it

THE BARBIZON SCHOOL

The artist who started the movement which would decisively influence the Impressionists is Théodore Rousseau.
Théodore Rousseau (don’t mistake him for Henry Rousseau, important point of reference for the 20^th-century avant-gardes), was born in Paris in 1812, and abandoned soon the academic painting, which was the basis of his artistic training, for a freer way to paint, by observing the nature “dal vero” (in the open air).

Since the late 1830s the Forest of Fontainebleau played the starring role in his paintings and became also his home, because Rousseau chose to live in the near village of Barbizon, and other artists, fascinated by this new way to paint gathered around him.

The Barbizon School was born.

Renaissance

Thursday December 1st, 2016 , Schools & Periods

Cupola di Santa Maria del Fiore | Duomo Firenze

Cupola di Santa Maria del Fiore, Firenze – Image source: Gabriele Colzi via Facebook

THE RENAISSANCE

When people talk about masterpieces of Italian art, they often make reference to the Renaissance as a turning point and the point of reference for the majority of the Western artists.
The Renaissance began in the early 15th century and covered a period of time of two centuries, up to the end of the 16th century, just to make it clear.

The city symbol of the Renaissance is Florence, when in 1401 a competition to build the second door for the Baptistery of the city was announced. Lorenzo Ghiberti was awarded the commission, and in his work he summarized the new Renaissance principles bound revolutionize the destiny of Western art: perspective, proportions and anatomy.

READ ALSO: The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum, a house museum hosting art collections of the Renaissance collected by the Bagatti Valsecchi brothers at the end of the 19th century.

The Renaissance: the greatest masters

Thursday November 10th, 2016 , Schools & Periods

Michelangelo Buonarroti, David (1501-1504) – Galleria dell’Accademia, Firenze. Image source: it.wikipedia.org

THE 16TH CENTURY: THE GREATEST MASTERS

I often write about artists and artistic movements, taking for granted that everyone can associate with right historic period. But a reader left a comment on my Facebook profile which made me think.
She lives in the USA e and is keen on fashion, but she shows little about art history, although she loves admiring masterpieces of the past, especially Italian masterpieces.
Therefore, I’ve decided to dedicate some posts to the greatest historical periods, thinking of her, and of those who want to know more about the artist I talk about on my blog, but also thinking of those who need to review.

Let’s begin with Italian art of the 16^th century.

Divisionism

Thursday June 23rd, 2016 , Schools & Periods

Giovanni Segantini

DIVISIONISM: THE ORIGIN OF MODERN PAINTING IN ITALY

Divisionism. Divisionism manifested itself in 1891 at the Triennale di Brera with the first public exhibition of a group of young artists: Giovanni Seganti, Giuseppe Pellizza de Volpedo, Angelo Morbelli, and Emilio Longoni.

What those artists showed upset and divided art critics and public, not only because they used a new painting technique consisting of juxtaposition of colour spots applied on the canvas, but also because they gave an innovative interpretation of social subjects and nature.