Painting of the Day

[Luke Blanchard]

I've saved the original thread, and I'll transfer the posts across as time permits.

Painting of the Day (original series):

Winter by Nicolas Poussin, a French painter of the 17th century who worked for most of his career in Rome.

This is one of his series The Four Seasons, painted near the end of his life. Each depicts a Biblical scene. In this case the subject is Noah's flood. You can see the Ark in the background on the left.

[Mark Sullivan (Vertiginous Mod)]

Thanks for the warning, Luke. I'll at least wait until I'm off the Reference Desk! Eddie Campbell posted some really hot stuff on his blog yesterday, without a warning. Although I probably should have been suspicious when he said his topic was "pubic hair."

[The Baron]

Luke Blanchard said:

Thanks for filling in again. I've not heard of Borsos before, but that's a nice portrait. How'd you come across it, Baron?

A Wikipedia link led me to a gallery of more of his works here.

I looked up "Hungarian painters" on Wikipedia.

[Luke Blanchard]

I just noticed that the swan is holding Leda with his right wing, as if he had his arm around her. Wikipedia's article "Leda and the Swan" discusses the use of the theme in erotic art and isn't suitable to minors.

Painting of the Day: The Libyan Sibyl, by Michelangelo Buonarroti. Detail from the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

This image provides a closer look at her half of the ceiling. Some of the figures leap out of their places. This image shows a preparatory drawing for today's work (hat-tip; the biography).

[Luke Blanchard]

Painting of the Day: The Madonna and Child with Saint John and the Angels, by Michelangelo Buonarroti.

According to Wikipedia, the painting is also known as the Manchester Madonna, and it's now widely accepted that it's by Michelangelo. I've not heard of it previously. The work is uncompleted.

[Luke Blanchard]

Painting of the Day: The Torment of St. Antony, by Michelangelo Buonarroti (after an engraving by Martin Schongauer).

I've not heard of this painting previously either. According to Wikipedia's page on the work the attribution to Michelangelo has only recently been established, it was painted by Michelangelo "when he was only 12 or 13 years old", and the work is now held by the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.

[The Baron]

Luke Blanchard said:

Painting of the Day: The Torment of St. Antony, by Michelangelo Buonarroti (after an engraving by Martin Schongauer).

I've not heard of this painting previously either. According to Wikipedia's page on the work the attribution to Michelangelo has only recently been established, it was painted by Michelangelo "when he was only 12 or 13 years old", and the work is now held by the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.

Wow, he was alot better than I was at that age.

[Travis Herrick (Modular Mod)]

Luke Blanchard said:

Painting of the Day: The Torment of St. Antony, by Michelangelo Buonarroti (after an engraving by Martin Schongauer).

I've not heard of this painting previously either. According to Wikipedia's page on the work the attribution to Michelangelo has only recently been established, it was painted by Michelangelo "when he was only 12 or 13 years old", and the work is now held by the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.

Hmm, that museum is only about an hour or so away from me.That would be cool to go see.

[Luke Blanchard]

Painting of the Day: The Sistine Madonna, by Raphael.

[The Baron]

Luke Blanchard said:

Painting of the Day: The Sistine Madonna, by Raphael.

The cherubim at the bottom look kind of bored...

[Luke Blanchard]

I've long supposed they're supposed to look like bored choirboys. Wikipedia's page on putti calls them "relaxed and curious".

[Luke Blanchard]

Painting of the Day: The Madonna of the Meadow, by Raphael.

The page here discusses its symbolism.

[The Baron]

Frederick North, Second Earl of Guilford, as painted by Nathaniel D... Americans will remember him as "Lord North", chief henchman of "Farmer" George III during the American Revolution.