Blossoming Almond Branch in a Glass (1888)

Blossoming Almond Branch in a Glass (1888)
One of my favorite still life subjects of Van Gogh, the cut branch in a glass, I ran across this one with the book behind creating a complicated compositional element. Note also the use of complementary colors, red and green, creating a vibration in the painting.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Nicolas Coustou

Happy Birthday Nicolas Coustou!! The French sculptor was born in 1658 to a woodcarver father who gave him his first lessons in the art of sculpture. He studied at the Academie Royale in Paris under his uncle (mother’s brother). While there he won the honorable award to study at the French Academy at Rome. Following this study Coustou became sculptor for the palaces Versailles and Marly. Influenced by Michelangelo, his sculptures were carved in the academic style but unfortunately many were destroyed in the French Revolution. One of his most famous is in the Louvre, pictured below: Louis the XV. Certainly the handling of the fabric is reminiscent of Michelangelo.


Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)