Joseph Cornell

Happy Birthday Joseph Cornell!! This American artist was born in 1903, in the quaint Victorian town on Nyack, New York, on the Hudson River. A collector, he was self-taught and worked with found objects, creating incredible assemblage boxes. It is reported that he first began assembling these 3-dimensional collages to amuse his brother, who had cerebral palsy. Each sectioned wooden box is filled with delightful collections of theater tickets, trinkets, slips of paper, wooden bits, etc. A Symbolist, Cornell used his treasures to allude to big ideas such as the passing of time, looking to the future, memories, fantasies, homage to various figures, etc. You must see these to truly appreciate them, as pictures really cannot do these creations justice!

 

George Barnard

Happy Birthday George Barnard!! American war photographer, born in 1819, Barnard had a studio in New York. When the Civil War broke out he was sent to photograph locations in Virginia and in Washington D. C. The photograph included below is of soldiers from the Union Army removing railroad tracks in Atlanta (1864).

John Crome

Happy Birthday John Crome!! English artist, born in 1768, Crome was a self-taught landscape painter who began as a sign painter's apprentice. He was founder of the Norwich Society of Artists, exhibiting with them regularly. In 1814 he traveled to Paris, by way of Belgium, to view the paintings looted by Napoleon. His son was also a painter, often imitating his father.

Thomas Couture

Happy Birthday Thomas Couture!! French painter born in 1815, Couture was a teacher and historical and portrait painter. He is best known for a large “orgy” painting titled The Romans of Decadence. Manet was his most well known student. His tonal contrast and free handling of the paint are evident in Manet's work. I am including a lesser known portrait demonstrating his style.

Clodion

Happy Birthday Clodion!! The French sculptor was born in 1738 and worked in the Rococo style. He went to Paris and began working in his uncle's (Lambert-Sigisbert Adam) studio in 1755. He worked in terra cotta and seemed to reject the idea of creating monumental works. The sculpture for today is titled The Invention of the Balloon (1784), depicting (obviously) the creation of the balloon by nymphs and angels in the flamboyant Rococo style for which he was known.

Su Tung-p'o

Happy Birthday Su Tung-p'o!! The Chinese poet, painter and calligrapher was born today in 1036! Confuscious, Taoism and Buddhism all influenced his poetry and art. He often spoke and wrote against official policies. Considered the greatest poet of the Sung Dynasty, Su wrote satirical free verse. He is credited with designing the parks around Lake Si in Hangzhou. He created impulsive paintings from childhood memories.

Willem van de Velde II

Happy Birthday Willem van de Velde II!! This painter, born in 1633, was from Holland. He was a student of Simon de Vlieger, painter of atmospheric maritime scenes, contrasted by Willem's own father who was also an influential painter of realistic seascapes. Initially Willem II concentrated on serene Dutch genre scenes of fishing boats near the shore, but his focus shifted a bit when he and his father relocated to England. Here he depicted Royal yachts and warships, and was commissioned by the king to paint battles at sea. The painting below, titled The Gust (1680), pictures a ship in trouble with perhaps the smaller ship coming to its aid.