★ Paintings frequently portray great events and grand people, but ‘An Interesting Letter’ by American artist Julius LeBlanc Stewart (1890) shows a scene far more familiar to most people. I have a bit of a passion for paintings that…
★ Today is the centenary of legendary American jazz singer, Ella Fitzgerald’s birth! Often referred to as the ‘First Lady of Song’, she was famous for her richly toned voice, impeccable diction and unparalleled talent for vocal improvisation. Born on this day in 1917 in Newport News, Virginia…
★ American dancer, singer and actor, Fred Astaire, was born on this day in 1899. In a career spanning 76 years, he starred in over 30 movies and gained a reputation for his impeccable sense of rhythm and relentless perfectionism. Often remembered as one half of ‘Fred and… Continue reading
★ ‘Portrait of Madame la Comtesse de Cambacérès’ by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1895). Currently in the collections of the Seattle Art Museum, this lovely painting depicts Louise de Rohan Chabot, who was born in Paris in… Continue reading
★ Arriving at the White House for the presentation ceremony of his NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Mercury Seven astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard and his wife Louise are greeted by President John F. Kennedy, First Lady… Continue reading
★ Utterly exquisite court ensemble worn by Emily Warren Roebling for her formal presentation to Queen Victoria in 1896. The wife of Brooklyn Bridge engineer, Washington Augustus Roebling, Emily played a significant role in the building of the bridge by taking over day-to-day… Continue reading
★ American actor, director, writer and producer, Orson Welles, was born on this day in 1915. Remembered for his highly innovative work in theatre, radio and film, one of his most notable productions was the legendary Mercury… Continue reading
★ I just love this beautiful illustrated advert for Adams California Fruit Chewing Gum, as published in Shadowland magazine, September 1919. Painted from a photograph, it features a likeness of American silent film actress Ruth Roland, who was endorsing the product with… Continue reading
★ British actress, model and dancer Audrey Hepburn, was born on this day in 1929. She’s pictured here in a beautiful publicity portrait for one of her earliest film roles, as ballet dancer Nora Brentano in Secret People (1952). Born in Brussels to a British father and Austrian… Continue reading
★ Actresses Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine, pictured in 1944. Sisters as well as fellow film stars, the two women are the only siblings ever to have both won Best Actress at the Academy Awards. While that is undeniably noteworthy, their notoriously strained personal… Continue reading
★ It’s the May Day holiday here in the UK, so to celebrate the glories of spring, I thought I’d share this beautiful painting – ‘Queen Guinevere’s Maying’ by John Collier (1900). Celebrating the renewal and fertility of springtime, May Day… Continue reading
★ The Louisiana Purchase Exposition – better known as the St. Louis World’s Fair – opened in St. Louis, Missouri, on this day in 1904. Intended to commemorate the centenary of the 1803 purchase of the Louisiana territory from France, the fair showcased a range of exhibits from 63… Continue reading
