The most famous portraits

[Santa]

Arrogantly look down from the darkened canvases kings and queens who once ruled the destinies of all Europe. Grin rootless poor, pitiful wrapped in rags. Buried in silk and satin distinguished ladies and gentlemen. Shyly smiling teenage girls. Confident about the future wealthy merchants. The names of some are now known to every schoolboy of the history textbook. Others have remained nameless ...

Gerard Terborch (1617-1681) - Violinist
Oil on canvas. The end of 1640s. St. Petersburg, Russia. Hermitage.

Voice of the violin - the voice of the wind. Strings violin - strings of the soul. No other tool can not be so excited to get to laugh - and cry. It is needed at weddings - and at the funeral. Without it will not do a holiday. The violin, of course, is no substitute for the orchestra, but it can create a mood, one for a lot of people, and these combine them all.
Violinist in the village or small town - and a sorcerer, and a philosopher. With the help of his instrument, he can tell a wonderful story, move hard heart, inspire the youth in search of adventure.
Musicians can not sit still. They can be seen on the busy trade fairs, and in tiny villages in the mountain passes. Italy with its orange groves, France blessed, happy hardworking Netherlands gladly welcome travelers who have a voice under his arm. They are everywhere for shelter and bread. Even the robbers in the wild forests friendly welcome traveling musicians.
For whom is this violinist? I think he is sitting behind a scanty meal at home or at an inn. He is old, it's all saturated with the sad wisdom and light melodies. Maybe this person and do not need listeners, he plays for himself? Or composing a song? Or just posing for an artist who has decided to draw it?

Rembrandt (1606-1669) - Hendrickje box
Oil on canvas. Around 1659 Berlin, Germany. Kaiser Friedrich Museum.

The great Dutch artist had two wives. In an ambitious young man - Saskia Eylenbyurh, the daughter of the mayor, the rich beauty related by ties of kinship and friendship with almost all the eminent citizens. It quickly faded and died very young from tuberculosis.
Second, unwed, Rembrandt's wife was Hendrick. This woman had no wealth or connections. She took care of the artist, who managed to lose much of its popularity.
Rembrandt wrote Hendrickje many times. And in the biblical image of beautiful Bathsheba, and the image of Danae, the beloved of Zeus. In this portrait he painted her in a housecoat, tired, untidy. A young woman with a childlike curiosity to see the world from the window opening, which the artist has transformed into the frame of the portrait. On a beautiful face strict ready to blossom smile. For the women behind a dense darkness. Against this background the face, clothes and hands radiant own light. Hendrickje with this picture remains in the memory of the audience as a good golden light, a small homemade sun Rembrandt.

Rogier van der Weyden (1399/1400-1464) - St. Jerome

Jerome - one of the most revered Catholic saints. Independently after learning the Hebrew language, he translated into Latin the Old and New Testaments. Titanic is not in vain. Church recognized version of the authoritative text of Jerome's Bible (it is known as the Vulgate).
On his picture Rogier van der Weyden depicts the saint in two different guises. In the background, Jerome appears as a stern ascetic, dressed in threadbare rags. In the arid desert of stone, he repents of his sins.
At the front the same plane pulls a splinter from the holy feet of a lion. Subsequently, this menacing beast became a devoted friend of his savior. On Jerome's cardinal's red dress, although in his time (V century), a priesthood did not exist. But the saint was a close adviser to Pope Damasus I, and thus represent the tradition in his cardinal's robes.

Добавлено через 16 минут
Rogier van der Weyden (1399/1400-1464) - Portrait of a woman
Board, oil. 1460, Washington, USA. National Gallery of Art.

They say that when Rogier van der Weyden painted portraits of wealthy and noble man, as payment for work he would take no more, no less, as a lifetime pension. The artist died a very wealthy and left a lot of money for charity.
Van der Weyden did not try to exact likeness of the portrait and the original. He was guided rather their own ideas about what should look like, or Craftsman Knight, what should be a great lady. Portraits commissioned for the ages. They had to tell the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of customers, as were their ancestors.
Portraits - a visible history of race. The young woman depicted in the picture, he knows about it. Orderly folded hands, lowered his eyes, pursed lips - all said that it was aware of the responsibility of such an important case as posing for a portrait. For many generations of girls from this family will be at her picture, taken from her example. Quiet dignity, generosity and devotion - qualities that should distinguish every young lady. This portrait will serve for one - ideal to be achieved, for others - a warning, for the third - a reproach.

Jan van Eyck (about 1390-1441) - Portrait of Cardinal Niccolo Albergati
Oil on canvas. 1431 Vienna, Austria. Museum of Fine Arts.

Jan van Eyck was at the very beginning of the Netherlands portrait. Largely thanks to him, this genre was later completely independent and very popular.
At the time of Van Eyck's The Pope is more powerful than many European sovereigns. Church leaders enjoyed great prestige and have played a prominent role in politics. One of those people depicted in the famous van Eyck painting. Cardinal Albergati spent his youth in the monastery of the Cartesians, known for its harsh statute. As the envoy of the Pope, he participated in the negotiations between France and Burgundy. (Then they were two independent and mutually hostile states.) Albergati efforts have led to a peace treaty. There is no doubt that van Eyck genuinely admired this talented man, one of the most educated and influential men of his era.

Jos van Cleve (about 1485-1540/41) - Eleanor French
Board, oil. Around 1530 Vienna, Austria. Museum of Fine Arts.

XVI century. The two most powerful European powers - France and Spain - are often encountered on the battlefield. In one such battle of the Spanish monarch Charles V captured the French King Francis I. While the winner pondered what shall require crowned with a captive woman intervened in the case. Sister Eleanor fell in love with the Spanish king hapless foe, and Charles V decided to use that feeling to your advantage. He let go of Francis I, he took with him a promise to marry the princess. This marriage was to bring peace between their countries. But Eleanor had to wait four long years before the French king windy thought of him in captivity imposed by the bride.
Dutch painter Van Cleve has written a portrait of a Spanish princess in a few years after she became the wife of Francis I and Queen of France. It is hard to read on the beautiful face of disdain - if she is happy with those who waited so long. This is a portrait of the present ruler, from childhood accustomed to hide his feelings from everyone ...

Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678) - Self-portrait with his parents, brothers and sisters
Oil on canvas. 1612-1615 gg. St. Petersburg, Russia. Hermitage.

Jacob Jordaens Flemish painter born into a large and happy family. His father - a merchant canvas - had eleven children, of which the future artist was a senior. All his life he spent in his native city, surrounded by near and dear to him. To them he devoted one of his first painting - "Self-portrait with her parents, brothers and sisters", which is sometimes called the "Family buster."
Jordaens was able to convey the atmosphere of love, warmth and comfort that surrounded him since childhood. The whole family gathered for a meal. Nobody thinks to pose for the artist. Mother with love watching the game the younger children. My father raises a glass of wine that relieve fatigue. Serene beautiful faces sisters Jordaens. The artist also is among their relatives, with lute in hand. It was only a servant, the serving fruit, provocatively and sly looks at the audience.

Добавлено через 17 минут
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) - Portrait of the Infanta Isabella maid
Board, oil. Around 1625, St. Petersburg, Russia. Hermitage.

In 1622 the family of the great Flemish artist came a great sorrow. In the age of twelve, died of his eldest daughter, Clara Serena. Shortly before the tragedy, Rubens painted a portrait of a girl ...
Three years later, while at the Brussels court, the master greeted the young maid of Princess Isabella. In the face of an unknown girl inconsolable father saw the features of his lost daughter. Shaken by this resemblance, Rubens went to work. Thus was born the famous "Portrait of the Infanta Isabella maid." With this film the viewer is looking grown-up for a few years Clara Serena, wearing a modest suit of the palace maids. Little girl with an old portrait turned into a charming young girl. Death and time were powerless before the memory of his father's genius and the artist.

Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) - Self Portrait
Oil on canvas. End 1620 - early 1630's. St. Petersburg, Russia. Hermitage.

Van Dyck painted his pictures quickly and easily. His contemporaries said that his brush drive angels. He really was a miracle. Genre portraits, which at that time have little respect for serious artists, through the gift of the wizard again risen and surpassed all others. Van Dyke has managed to create not just a fashion for portraits, and more style, which influenced the subsequent development of painting. The era in which the artist lived, thanks to his portraits seem to us now even more elegant and glamorous than she really was.
Van Dijk was able to subtly flatter the man who painted. Growth would add, where it was not enough, choosing the right lighting, impressive background. Sometimes it was enough to carefully write down the crimson bodice embroidered in gold ladies to distract the viewer from its very long nose.
But the love of the artist, of course, not only for this. Van Dyke had the talent to guess the person who painted and unique, he alone has the features, and so pass them on the portrait to the peculiarity of the model it became obvious to all. Artist like new "rebuild" the customer, cleared his way from the alluvial, random features, put it in its own elegance, nobility of their own nervous. Man flourished under his brush, became the way is only in the best moments of my life. Or the way just wanted to be.

Frans Hals (1583-1666 approximately) - Mallet Babb

Board, oil. Around 1634 Berlin, Germany. Picture Gallery.

The main contribution to the establishment of the Dutch school belongs to the realistic portrait by Frans Hals. A distinctive feature of his work - the ability to capture instantaneous, momentary mood.
In the portrait depicts Mallet Babb - the famous city of Haarlem cantiniere, dubbed "Harlemskoy witch." The old woman turned around and laughing, probably on someone's practical joke. On her shoulder sat an owl, symbolizing the tavern the night life, the same prey, as the hostess herself. In his right hand Mallet Babb open jar, from which she pours wine to anyone who will pay. Rudeness and character traits emphasized Innkeeper large, as sketched on canvas strokes. White cap and collar contrast sharply with the almost masculine face of the heroine, highlighting it in the general dark background. And yet, most importantly in the image created by Hulse. not deliberate ugliness, and overflowing, an indestructible vitality Mallet Babb.

Frans Hals (1583-1666 approximately) - Portrait of Isaac Massa AbrahamsonaHolst, oil. 1626 Toronto, Canada. Art Gallery.
At the time of the Netherlands Frans Hals was the most developed European country. The main source of her wealth was trade. None of the states of Europe could not compete with this little republic.
The situation in the country was reflected in the paintings. In the XVII century, there was a set of portraits of wealthy merchants, who possessed great power. These people were heroes in the Netherlands and its citizens with a capital letter.
This picture is called "brilliant portraits of the Khalsa." The costume of the hero is very easy, and careless attitude. A wealthy merchant did not care about the elegance of his manners. His gaze is not directed at the viewer, but to us invisible companion. This man never for a moment he can not forget about the cases he has no time to just sit artist. Landscape behind Abrahamson emphasizes his relationship with his native country. After all, without people like the merchant, Holland would never have become so rich and strong country.

Добавлено через 9 минут
Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678) - A family concert
Oil on canvas. Around 1638, Antwerp, Belgium. Royal Museum of Fine Arts.

In the work of Jacob Jordaens difficult to determine the line separating the portrait of genre scenes. Family dinners, happy holidays, house concerts - that's his favorite themes of Flemish masters. Combining people, linked by ties of kinship and friendship, the artist creates a wonderful group portraits. Details of genre scenes in such films serve to emphasize the unity of all the actors, their enthusiasm for a common cause.
Cheerful Flemings loved dancing, music, singing in chorus. Family concerts were frequent in many homes. At the top of one of the pictures of the master on this topic, in a carved frame is placed Flemish proverb: "How old are singing, whistling as the young." And here is a visible confirmation. Enthusiastically sing the elderly, and also enthusiastically plays unpretentious musical instruments youth. Only a woman holding a child prefers the role of the listener. However, it is no less the rest of experiencing what is happening.

Cornelius de Vos (1586-1651) - Portrait of Abraham Grafeusa
Oil on canvas. 1620 Antwerp, Belgium. Royal Museum of Fine Arts.

Strange impression that portrait. A man in a black jacket with a ruff and a white apron, somehow wound around the waist, shows someone precious goblets. Abraham Grafeus must have cleaned them, bringing to light - in the crook of the elbow he hangs dishcloth.
Angry facial expression, harsh, almost frantic look, he stabs an unseen companion, a metallic vest, constructed of different-sized kruglyashi - all this makes the viewer question his sanity. Or in the understanding of the artist who dared to present his client in this almost caricatured. Or the customer was just Abraham Grafeusa foe? Maybe people with this portrait just liked to joke? And his descendants of all the portraits of his ancestors loved most was this, which wipes the eccentric old utensils, wearing apparel, is equally absurd and in war, and on society reception?

Jan Vermeer Delft (1632-1675) - The head of a girl
Oil on canvas. C. 1665 The Hague, Netherlands. Mauritshuis.

This picture of the famous Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer is also known as "head girl". This is no accident. The wizard does not set a goal to paint a portrait of the individual. He created a generalized image of a teenage girl who is about to turn into a young girl. Thin, barely visible bar that separated the only character from Vermeer carefree childhood. And the curiosity of the child in a large glittering eyes mixed with another woman unconscious coquetry.
Vermeer is trying to attract the viewer's attention to the face of her heroine. Only it was interested in creating works of the artist. Yellow tape head, hiding his hair, big pearl earrings, white collar - these are just details that add nothing to the look of the girl. And the master plan was a success: over three-plus centuries of adolescence itself looks at the viewer with this picture.

[Santa]

Rogier van der Weyden (1399/1400-1464) - Portrait of a woman
Classified oil. 1460, Washington, USA. National Gallery of Art.

They say that when Rogier van der Weyden painted portraits of the rich and noble man, as payment for the work it took no more, no less, as a lifetime pension. The artist died a very wealthy and left a lot of money for charity.
Van der Weyden did not try to exact likeness of the portrait and the original. He was guided rather their own ideas about what should look like Knight or Tinker, what should be a great lady. Portraits commissioned for the ages. They had to tell the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of customers, as were their ancestors.
Portraits - a visible history of race. The young woman shown in the picture, knows this. Well-behaved folded hands, drooping eyes, pursed lips - all said that it was aware of the responsibility of such an important case as posing for a portrait. For generations, girls in this family will be at her picture taken with her example. Quiet dignity, generosity, devotion - qualities that should distinguish every young lady. This portrait will serve for one - ideal to be achieved, for others - a warning, for the third - a reproach.

Jan van Eyck (about 1390-1441) - Portrait of Cardinal Niccolo Albergati
Oil on wood. 1431 Vienna, Austria. Museum of Fine Arts.

Jan van Eyck was at the very beginning of the Netherlands portrait. Largely due to the genre he later became very independent and very popular.
At the time of van Eyck's The Pope is more powerful than many European sovereigns. Church leaders have enjoyed enormous prestige and played a prominent role in politics. One such individual is depicted in the famous picture of van Eyck. Cardinal Albergati spent his youth in the monastery of the Cartesians, known for its harsh statute. As an envoy of the Pope, he participated in the negotiations between France and Burgundy. (Then they were two independent and mutually hostile states.) Albergati efforts led to the conclusion of a peace treaty. There is no doubt that van Eyck genuinely respected this talented man, one of the most educated and influential men of his age.

Jos van Cleve (about 1485-1540/41) - Eleanor French
Classified oil. Around 1530 Vienna, Austria. Museum of Fine Arts.

XVI century. The two most powerful European powers - France and Spain - are often encountered on the battlefield. In one such battle of the Spanish monarch Charles V captured the French king Francis I. While the winner reflected on what ransom demand from the crowned captive woman intervened in the case. Sister Eleanor fell in love with the Spanish king hapless foe, and Charles V decided to take this feeling for their own purposes. He let go of Francis I, taking with him a promise to marry the princess. This marriage was to bring peace between their countries. But Eleanor had to wait four long years before the windy French king thought of him in captivity imposed by the bride.
Dutch painter Van Cleef painted a portrait of a Spanish princess in a few years after she became the wife of Francis I and Queen of France. It is hard to read on the beautiful face of disdain - whether she is happy with those who waited so long. This is a portrait of this ruler, from childhood accustomed to hide their feelings from everyone ...

Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678) - Self-portrait with his parents, brothers and sisters
Oil on canvas. 1612-1615 years. St. Petersburg, Russia. The Hermitage.

Jacob Jordaens Flemish painter born into a large and happy family. His father - a merchant cloth - had eleven children, of which the future artist was a senior. All his life he spent in his native town, surrounded by near and dear to him. To them he devoted one of his first paintings - "Self-portrait with his parents, brothers and sisters", which is sometimes called the "Family buster."
Jordaens was able to convey the atmosphere of love, warmth and comfort that surrounded him since childhood. The whole family gathered for a meal. Nobody thinks to pose for the artist. Mother with love is watching the game the younger children. The father raises his glass of wine that relieve fatigue. Serene beautiful faces sisters Jordaens. The artist is also found among his relatives, with a lute in his hands. It was only a servant, the serving fruit, pert and sly looks at the audience.

[Santa]

Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) - Portrait of the Infanta Isabella maid
Classified oil. Around 1625, St. Petersburg, Russia. The Hermitage.

In 1622 the family of the great Flemish artist had a great sorrow. At the age of twelve death of his eldest daughter, Clara Serena. Shortly before the tragedy, Rubens painted a portrait of a girl ...
Three years later, while at the Brussels court, met the young master's maid of Princess Isabella. In the face of an unknown girl disconsolate father saw the features of her lost daughter. Shocked by this resemblance, Rubens went to work. Thus was born the famous "Portrait of the Infanta Isabella maid." With this picture in the viewer looks matured for several years Clara Serena, wearing a modest suit of the palace maids. Little girl with old portraits turned into a charming young girl. Death and time were powerless before the memory of his father's genius and the artist.

Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) - Self-portrait
Oil on canvas. End 1620 - early 1630's. St. Petersburg, Russia. The Hermitage.

Van Dyck painted his pictures quickly and easily. His contemporaries said that his brush drive angels. He really was a miracle. Genre of the portrait, which at that time have little respect for serious artists, through the gift of this wizard again risen and surpassed all others. Van Dyke was able to create not just a fashion for a portrait, and great style, which influenced the subsequent development of painting. The era in which the artist lived, thanks to his portraits seem to us now even more elegant and glamorous than she really was.
Van Dyke was able to subtly flatter the man whom the drawing. Growth would add, where it was not enough, choosing the right lighting, a spectacular backdrop. Sometimes it was enough to carefully write down the crimson bodice embroidered in gold ladies to distract the viewer from its very long nose.
But the love of the artist, of course, not only for this. Van Dyke had the talent to guess the person who painted, unique, he alone has the features, and so send them in the portrait to the peculiarity of the model it became evident to all. Artist like new "rebuild" the customer cleared his way from alluvial, random features, put it in its own elegance, nobility of his own nerves. Man flourished under his brush, became the way is only in the best moments of my life. Or the way just wanted to be.

Frans Hals (1583-1666 approximately) - Mallet Babb
Classified oil. Around 1634 Berlin, Germany. An art gallery.

The main contribution to the establishment of the Dutch school of realistic portrait owned by Frans Hals. The distinguishing feature of his work - the ability to capture instantaneous, momentary mood.
In the portrait depicts Mallet Babb - the famous city of Haarlem cantiniere, dubbed "Harlemskoy witch." The old woman turned and laughed, probably on someone's practical joke. On her shoulder sat an owl, symbolizing the tavern the night life, the same prey as the mistress herself. In his right hand Mallet Babb open jug from which she pours wine to anyone who will pay. Rudeness and the character traits emphasized Innkeeper large, as if sketched on the canvas strokes. White cap and collar contrast sharply with the almost masculine face of the heroine, highlighting it in the general dark background. And yet, most importantly in the image created by Hulse. not deliberate ugliness, and overflowing, indestructible vitality Mallet Babb.

Frans Hals (1583-1666 approximately) - Portrait of Isaac Massa Abrahamson
Oil on canvas. 1626 Toronto, Canada. An art gallery.

At the time of the Netherlands Frans Hals was the most developed European country. The main source of her wealth was trade. None of the states of Europe could not compete with this little republic.
The situation in the country was reflected in the paintings. In the XVII century there was a set of portraits of wealthy merchants, who possessed great power. These people were the real heroes of Holland, its citizens with a capital letter.
This picture is called "brilliant portraits of the Khalsa." The costume of the hero is very simple and careless attitude. A wealthy merchant did not care about their refinement of manners. His gaze is not directed at the viewer, but to us the invisible companion. This man never for a moment he can not forget about the cases he has no time to just sit artist. Landscape behind Abrahamson stressed his relationship with his native country. After all, without people like the merchant, the Netherlands would not have become so rich and strong country.

[Santa]

Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678) - Family Concert
Oil on canvas. Around 1638 Antwerp, Belgium. Royal Museum of Fine Arts.

In the work of Jacob Jordaens difficult to determine the line separating the portrait of genre scenes. Family dinners, happy holidays, house concerts - that's his favorite themes Flemish master. Gathering together people linked by ties of kinship and friendship, the artist creates a wonderful group portraits. Details of genre scenes in such films serve to emphasize the unity of all the actors, their enthusiasm for a common cause.
Cheerful Flemings loved dancing, music, singing in chorus. Family concerts were frequent in many homes. At the top of one of the masters paintings, dedicated to this subject, in a carved frame is placed Flemish proverb: "How old are singing, whistling as the young." And here is a visible confirmation. Enthusiastically sing the old, and just as enthusiastically playing musical instruments, unpretentious young people. Only a woman holding a child prefers the role of listener. However, it is no less than the others going through what is happening.

Cornelis de Vos (1586-1651) - Portrait of Abraham Grafeusa
Oil on canvas. 1620 Antwerp, Belgium. Royal Museum of Fine Arts.

Strange impression that portrait. The man in black jacket with a ruff and a white apron, somehow wound around the waist, shows someone precious cups. Abraham Grafeus must have cleaned them, bringing to light - in the crook of the elbow he hangs dishcloth.
An angry expression on his face, a stern, almost insane look with which he pierces the unseen companion, metallic vest, constructed of different-sized kruglyashi - all this makes the viewer question his sanity. Or in the understanding of the artist who dared to present his client in this almost caricatured. Or the customer was just Abraham Grafeusa foe? Maybe people with this portrait just loved a joke? And his descendants of all the portraits of his ancestors loved the most was this, which wipes the eccentric old utensils, wearing apparel, equally absurd, and in war, and on society reception?

Jan Vermeer Delft (1632-1675) - The head of a girl
Oil on canvas. C. 1665 The Hague, Netherlands. Mauritshuis.

This picture of the famous Dutch painter Jan Vermeer is also known as "head girl". This is no accident. The wizard does not set a goal to paint a portrait of the individual. He created a generalized image of a teenage girl who is about to become a young girl. A thin, barely visible bar that separated the only character of Vermeer's carefree childhood. And the curiosity of the child in the large shining eyes mixed with another woman unconscious coquetry.
Vermeer is trying to attract the viewer's attention to the face of the heroine. Only it was interested in creating a work of the artist. Yellow tape head that covers the hair, a large pearl earring, white collar - these are just details that add nothing to the look of the girl. And the master plan was a success: over three-plus centuries of adolescence itself looks at the viewer with this picture.