★ ‘La Comtesse de Cambacérès’ by Bouguereau (1895)

★ ‘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… Read More

★ ‘Queen Guinevere’s Maying’ by John Collier (1900)

★ 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… Read More

★ ‘An Interesting Letter’ by Julius LeBlanc Stewart (1890)

★ 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… Read More

★ ‘Young Decadent’ by Ramon Casas (1899)

★ I’m both under the weather and horribly busy at the moment, so I rather envy the languor of this ‘Young Decadent (After the Ball)’ by Catalan Spanish artist, Ramon Casas (1899). Such a gorgeous painting. While I love the intense contrast between her dark, sombre black… Read More

★ Czachorski’s ‘Lady in a Lilac Dress’ (1880s)

★ ‘A Lady in a Lilac Dress with Flowers’ by Wladyslaw Czachórski (1880-90). I am absolutely in love with this painting – everything from the play of light upon the pale lilac satin of her dress (with it’s fabulous ruffled sleeves), to the intricate details of her surroundings, I think the entire… Read More

★ Neubourg-Cromière Portraits by Roslin

★ I absolutely love these gorgeous companion portraits of French aristocrats, the Baron and Baroness de Neubourg-Cromière. They were created in 1756 by noted Swedish artist Alexander Roslin, whose skillful representation… Read More

★ Maternal Bond – Mother and Child in Art

★ It’s Mother’s Day here in the UK – that day when we take the time to say ‘thank you’ for all the kissed-better cuts and scrapes, laundered clothes, home-cooked meals, and ever-loving shoulder to cry on. There’s an old saying that… Read More

★ Manimal Portraits by Ibride at Amara

★ Aren’t these new Galerie de Portraits trays by French manufacturer, Ibride, such good fun?! Featuring historical portraits with a difference – animal heads to replace the original sitter – they’re even durable enough, and more importantly, interesting enough for you to… Read More

★ ‘The Artist in His Studio’ by Whistler

★ Just stumbled across this gorgeous painting by James McNeill Whistler, dating from 1865/66 and entitled ‘The Artist in His Studio’ (that’s right, it’s a self portrait and the guy on the right is Whistler himself!). Aside from how wonderfully impressionistic this painting is, I absolutely… Read More