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.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Albert Besnard

You may notice I am posting the day's birthday a day early...well we are trying to make it to Italy tomorrow, early morning and I may not be able to get to a computer. We are flying on buddy passes and were bumped today...so we try again tomorrow! Anyway, I will be posting info and tidbits from our trip throughout most of June!


Happy Birthday Albert Besnard!! Born on June 2, in 1849, this French artist was born to parents who were both artists, his mother a well-known miniaturist. He studied at Ecole des Beaux-Arts and then won the Grand Prix of Rome. Following his marriage to sculptress Charlotte Dubray, Besnard began developing his defining technique featuring an incredible handling of light and dark. An example of this style is his portrait of Madame Roger Jourdain.


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