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November 26: Rosso scores
ROSSO SCORES The work of Giovanni Battista di Jacopo (1494 – 1540), known as Rosso Fiorentino–“the Red Florentine”–is irregular, with some pretty ho-hum stuff, and some that’s really wonderful. In the wonderful category is “Moses Defending the Daughters of Jethro.” I love the animation of the thing, with Moses going at it in the foreground,…
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Nov. 19: an unexpected gem
AN UNEXPECTED GEM John Aubrey (1626-97) is noted for his lively and succinct notations on the life around him. He was fascinated with people, but also advanced the understanding of Stonehenge and suchlike prehistoric monuments in England. He also drew lots of pictures. Many of these are included in the recent book John Aubrey, My Own Life by…
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March 10 Arcimboldo
ARCIMBOLDO Giuseppi Arcimboldo (1527 – 1593) is one of those fascinating artists who can’t be put in one box. The self-portrait below is competent but pedestrian: “This is what I look like.” No doubt, but so what? A self-portrait should be about inner states. His portrait of the Emperor Maximilian and family, an early work,…
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Nov. 5: an absurd “Hals”
AN ABSURD “HALS” Frans Hals (1582-1666) did a lot of portraits, notable for their loose, painterly execution. For a comprehensive view, check out Wikipedia’s “Frans Hals catalogue raisonné,” but this cluster gives you a pretty good idea. He found his formula early on, and stuck with it: subjects at ease but energetic, as if in…