★ 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
★ 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
★ 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
★ American actress, Celeste Holm, was born exactly 100 years ago today! A talented performer on both stage and screen, she’s pictured here in a studio publicity photo from 1947. Born in Manhattan, New York, on 29th April 1917, Celeste was the only child of Theodor Holm, a… Continue reading
★ Lovely illustration showing a selection of day outfits designed by Gabrielle Chanel, published in ‘Les Elegances Parisiennes’ in March 1917. A product of changing social realities and the harsh practicalities of the First World War, these three outfits are the embodiment of late-1910s… Continue reading
★ 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… Continue reading
★ 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… Continue reading
