Art Articles

Article by Vladimir London

Best known as a painter of historical and mythological scenes, Viktor Vasnetsov was born 15 May 1848 in Lopiyal, in Viatka Province. Originally intending to follow his father and grandfather into the priesthood, Vasnetsov attended seminary at age ten.

While studying in Ryabovo, he helped a local icon painter with his trade and aided exiled Polish artist Andriolli to make frescoes for the Aleksandr Nevsky Cathedral.

Upon graduating, however, he decided to pursue his own course. He auctioned two of his own paintings to fund a move to St. Petersburg, where in 1867 he began to attend the Imperial Academy of the Arts…

Article by Vladimir London

Born on May 30, 1971, Serge Marshennikov was raised and educated in the USSR. From the early childhood, Serge displayed a passion for art and his mother was helping to develop his skills by hiring private art teachers. Serge’s early talent was noticed and awarded. Growing older, he decided to dedicate his life to art and enrolled into the Ufa Art College, which he finished in 1995. The same year, Serge had his first solo art exhibition in Ufa, which had a great success and he was invited to exhibit at the Artists’ Union gallery.

After the art college, Serge continued his art education at one of the most prestigious art academies in the world, The Repin Academy of Fine Art in St. Petersburg, Russia. Serge continued to exhibit his paintings in both St Petersburg and…

Article by Sarah

As the story goes, one sunny morning in Florence, Italy, Filippo Brunelleschi appeared at the gate of the not-yet-completed cathedral, holding a little painting and a little mirror. Already considered a magician by half of Florence because of the dome he was building without any scaffolding, Master Filippo gathered a sizable crowd for his demonstration…

Article by Clayton Cogmon Jr.

During the High Renaissance, art was used for decoration, prestige, and most importantly, to immortalize anyone closely involved with it. There are many ways to create art, but none strike the observers interests like the great sculptures of the Renaissance era. However, one in particular does stand out from the rest: The David.

The David is the most famous, well known statue in the world. A 17 foot marble masterpiece, the David has a complicated history.

This is fitting, considering his creator was a complicated man himself. This creator being, Michelangelo.

Believe it or not, Michelangelo was not the first person to be hired for the commission of the great statue. In fact, Michelangelo was not even born during the earliest phases…

Article by Clayton Cogmon Jr.

It would be almost impossible to find a person that hasn’t heard of the famed, mysterious, and universally controversial Mona Lisa. She was created by the famed High Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci, and for decades she has captivated millions of people worldwide. But the question that has to linger in everyone’s head at least once is: “Why is the painting so darn famous to begin with?” Is it those elusive eyes? That captivating smile? Or the fact that it is rumored that the painting is actually a self portrait of da Vinci as a cross dresser? The mystery is a grand one, yet so simple you’ll smack your forehead in disbelief.

The origins of The Mona Lisa begin in Florence, Italy. Supposedly, it was asked for by Francesco du Giocondo. He wanted a painting of his wife Lisa Gherardini. Leonardo, having taken much time off from painting accepted. The theory is he was in need of income and thought the painting was an easy way to get it. However, he would never guessed that he would spend the rest if his life on the piece…

Article by Clayton Cogmon Jr.

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (also known as Raphael) was born during the year 1483 in Urbino, Italy. He grew up with a strong talent for the arts, but no one could have predicted that one day pope Julius II would send Raphael an invitation to the Vatican. The invitation was sent to hire Raphael for a commission; this commission would have Raphael paint “… the perfect embodiment of the classical spirit of the High Renaissance”: The School of Athens.

Painted between the years of 1509 to 1511, The School of Athens is one of the most famous fresco paintings ever done by Raphael. It was one masterpiece of many done in the Apostolic Palace by Raphael. There are many reasons why this painting catches the attention of everyone who lays their eyes upon it…

Article by Clayton Cogmon Jr.

Leonardo da Vinci was born April 15, 1452. He is considered by many the greatest painter of all time. However, he is also known as one of the greatest anatomists of his time. When he died in 1519, da Vinci left behind thousands of pages of notes and drawings that lay undiscovered for hundreds of years. These notes include hundreds of surprisingly accurate anatomical sketches.

Leonardo da Vinci first began his sketches in Milan, Italy during the year 1482, already a full fledged artist. He was very curious about the human body; he wanted to get inside and see how it worked. To accomplish this, da Vinci would acquire bodies from the church and dissect them. He analyzed the different muscle groups and tendons, trying to deduce what made what move and what worked where. He recorded these observations in his notebook. Pages upon pages of newfound discoveries and theories were shown. His sketches were done very meticulously and, to modern anatomists surprise, immensely accurate.

Article by Carol GRACE de SOFIA, Drawing Academy student

JOSÉ JIMÉNEZ ARANDA – 1837-1903

In 1889, Jiménez Aranda’s brother Luis was awarded a prize for “The Hospital,” painted from the interior of a French hospital and meticulously detailed.

The piece received the Medal of Honor at the Spanish Pabillion during the Universal Expo in Paris. This marked a painting renaissance throughout Spain.

The Universal Expo of 1889 initiated a new trend in Spanish painting: Naturalism. José Jiménez Aranda said of his brother Luis’ artwork that “It is simple and logical. We know how to paint, but need to renovate ourselves.”

Only Great Masters are able to change their style—which is exactly what Jiménez Aranda did, proving once more his real talent. He had already mastered the Casaca style and earned a tremendous reputation, and even though he was over 50 years old, he completely changed course…

Article by Carol GRACE de SOFIA, Drawing Academy student

JOSÉ JIMÉNEZ ARANDA – 1837-1903

In Rome, Jiménez Aranda worked for months, developing the details of his art and further personalizing each piece.

He planned his pictures in successive stages, determining in advance what he was going to paint, and in exactly what way.

The figures in his “cloak” (casacones) paintings were carefully studied. He constantly made sketches and preparatory drawings for each canvas.

He conducted rigorous research about the objects and clothes he included.
The attitudes and manners of his characters are natural and well-balanced, the figures relaxed and lacking any artificiality…

Article by Carol GRACE de SOFIA, Drawing Academy student

JOSÉ JIMÉNEZ ARANDA – 1837-1903

An artist that demanded a tremendous amount out of himself…

José Jiménez Aranda was born in Seville, Spain, on February 7, 1837.

He was known for his plain yet elegant manners and for his fiery temper. He would display a gentle look as he made heartfelt, simple, and precise statements.

When observing a piece of art that he despised, he would make a very scrupulous and witty analysis of the piece, disregarding the creator.

Sorolla spoke of Jiménez Aranda as a Great Master of Art, as well as a gentleman of character and humility, from whom much could be learned, not only in matters of art but of personal conduct as well.

In 1848, when Aranda was 14, his father enrolled him in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Santa Isabel of Hungary, located in Seville, Spain, where he would himself teach in his late years. His Tutors were Don Antonio Cabral Bejarano, the patriarch of Sevillian painting and an excellent artist in his own right, and Don Eduardo Cano de la Peña, an innovative teacher who would encourage his students to look for inspiration from life, transgressing the Academic standards of the time…