Poetry, stories and strange odds and ends from the desk of a writer
The Jewish Bride by Rembrandt The Jewish Bride1667Baroque, Golden EraOil on CanvasRijksmuseum, Amsterdam, NetherlandsPic From Rembrandt’s mature period “The Jewish Bride” was intended for a small and selective audience, appreciative of the artist as a painter of psychological expression in his paintings. The moderately sized canvas with no scenery as if completely focused on the … Continue reading The Jewish Bride by Rembrandt
The Young Virgin by Francisco de Zurbaran The Young Virgin1640-45BaroqueOil on canvasThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA ‘The Young Virgin’ features a young girl seated with her hands on her lap looking upwards. A barely visible semicircle of angels surrounds her head. In Mary’s lap is a piece of embroidery with a threaded … Continue reading The Young Virgin by Francisco de Zurbarán
Saint Serapion by Francisco de Zurbarán Saint Serapion1628BaroqueOil on canvasWadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut, USA Zubarán’s canvas is filled with the figure of a youthful friar dressed in a white robe in this dramatic painting. Above his head, his wrists are tethered by ropes and his head hangs lifelessly on his right shoulder. … Continue reading Saint Serapion by Francisco de Zurbarán
Saint Francis Contemplating a Skull by Francisco de Zurbarán Saint Francis Contemplating a Skull1633-35Religious ArtOil on canvasSaint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri Saint Francis Contemplating a Skull demonstrates Zubarán’s ability to capture spirituality in his subjects. Dressed in the brown habit of the Franciscan Order the saint looks down at the human skull in … Continue reading Saint Francis Contemplating a Skull by Francisco de Zurbarán
Jacob by Francisco de Zurbarán Jacob1640-45Religious ArtOil on canvasCollection of Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, England Zurbarán portrays the biblical figure of Jacob as an old man, A life size portrait ‘Jacob’ is one of a series of thirteen works of Jacob and his twelve sons. Standing as prime examples of Zubarán’s mature style these portraits … Continue reading Jacob by Francisco de Zurbarán
Hercules Staying the Course of the River Alpheus by Francisco de Zurbaran Hercules Staying the Course of the River Alpheus1634BaroqueOil on canvasMuseo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, Spain Zubarán depicts a near-naked Hercules stood on a rocky outcrop with his left arm resting on a walking stick. One of a series of ten paintings depicting the … Continue reading Hercules Staying the Course of the River Alpheus by Francisco de Zurbarán
https://youtu.be/TZCfydWF48c Winter1725Baroque Antonio Vivaldi Antonio VivaldiBaroqueBorn: 4 March 1678, Venice, ItalyNationality: ItalianDied: 28 July 1741, Vienna, Austria Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was a composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher and cleric. He is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and within his lifetime his influence was widespread across Europe. He composed numerous concertos for the violin … Continue reading Winter by Antonio Vivaldi
Lully was a composer, instrumentalist, and dancer. He is considered a master of the French Baroque best known for his operas, Lully spent most of his career working in the French court of Louis XIV and became a French citizen in 1661...
https://youtu.be/fJggcTHtD5Y La Plaisiers Ballet: Sarabande1655Baroque Jean-Baptiste Lully Jean-Baptiste LullyBaroqueBorn: 28 November 1632, Florence, ItalyNationality: FrenchDied: 22 March 1687, Paris, France Lully was a composer, instrumentalist, and dancer. He is considered a master of the French Baroque best known for his operas, Lully spent most of his career working in the French court of Louis XIV … Continue reading La Plaisiers Ballet: Sarabande by Jean-Baptiste Lully
https://youtu.be/SJqLgL8oUPs Dies Irae1683Baroque Jean-Baptiste Lully Jean-Baptiste LullyBaroqueBorn: 28 November 1632, Florence, ItalyNationality: FrenchDied: 22 March 1687, Paris, France Lully was a composer, instrumentalist, and dancer. He is considered a master of the French Baroque best known for his operas, Lully spent most of his career working in the French court of Louis XIV and became … Continue reading Dies Irae by Jean-Baptiste Lully
https://youtu.be/7W2HCCAxUfA French follies dominoes1722Baroque François Couperin François CouperinBaroqueBorn: 10 November 1668, Paris, FranceNationality: FrenchDied: 11 September 1733, Paris, France Couperin was a composer, organist, and harpsichordist of the Baroque era. He was known as Couperin le Grand to distinguish him from the other members of his musically talented Family.
https://youtu.be/G_2mxMdA84M Brandenburg Concerto 21713Baroque Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian BachBaroqueBorn: 31 March 1685, Eisenach, GermanyNationality: GermanDied: 28 July 1750, Leipzig, Germany Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer and musician of the Baroque era. Best known for his instrumental compositions such as the Brandenburg Concertos and for vocal music such as St Matthew Passion. Since a … Continue reading Brandenburg Concerto 2 by Johann Sebastian Bach
https://youtu.be/Z50Ihfp_lMw Goldberg Variations1741Baroque Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian BachBaroqueBorn: 31 March 1685, Eisenach, GermanyNationality: GermanDied: 28 July 1750, Leipzig, Germany Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer and musician of the Baroque era. Best known for his instrumental compositions such as the Brandenburg Concertos and for vocal music such as St Matthew Passion. Since a Bach … Continue reading Goldberg Variations by Johann Sebastian Bach
Man in Oriental Costume by Rembrandt Man in Oriental Costume1632Baroque, Dutch Golden AgeOil on canvasMetropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, USA An ambitious painting, ‘Man in Oriental Costume’ depicts the Dutch idea of a Near Eastern Potentate, an exotic subject that would appeal a knowledgeable and experienced collector. A stately and colossal figure … Continue reading Man in Oriental Costume by Rembrandt
Belshazzar's Feast1635Baroque, Dutch Golden AgeOil on canvasNational Gallery, London, England As the King of Babylon, Belshazzar’s story is told in the Old Testament. His sacrilege of having gold and silver vessels looted by his father from the Temple in Jerusalem for his own use. He ordered the vessels be filled with his wine for his … Continue reading Belshazzar’s Feast by Rembrandt
https://youtu.be/nNeI1PVIDeg The Cold Song1691Opera Henry PurcellBaroqueBorn: 10 September 1659, London, UKNationality: EnglishDied: 21 November 1695, London, UK Purcell was a composer of a uniquely English form of Baroque music which incorporated Italian and French elements. He is one of the greatest English composers and the most famous before the 20th century’s Elgar, Williams, and Britten.
https://youtu.be/1enecR8JNTg Die Tageszeiten1757Baroque Georg Philipp TelemannBaroqueBorn: 14 March 1681, Magdeburg, GermanyNationality: GermanDied: 25 June 1767, Hamburg, Germany Telemann was a composer and multi-instrumentalist. He became a composer against his family’s wishes and was almost self-educated musically. Before settling in Hamburg in 1721 as a musical director of the city’s five main churches, he held important … Continue reading Die Tageszeiten by Georg Philipp Telemann
La Stravaganza1713Baroque https://youtu.be/DTSl0-dbHbY Antonio VivaldiBaroqueBorn: 4 March 1678, Venice, ItalyNationality: ItalianDied: 28 July 1741, Vienna, Austria Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was a composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher and cleric. He is recognised as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and within his lifetime his influence was widespread across Europe. He composed numerous concertos for the violin and … Continue reading La Stravaganza by Antonio Vivaldi
Bathsheba at Her Bath1654Baroque, Dutch Golden AgeOil on canvasThe Louvre, Paris, France A life size canvas presenting the biblical character Bathsheba in a shallow space, illuminated from the left in front of a darker background. The Old Testament tells how King David noticed a woman bathing outdoors when he was on the terrace of his … Continue reading Bathsheba at Her Bath by Rembrandt
Gloria1715Baroque https://youtu.be/Tu6yiS1Q3dA Antonio VivaldiBaroqueBorn: 4 March 1678, Venice, ItalyNationality: ItalianDied: 28 July 1741, Vienna, Austria Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was a composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher and cleric. He is recognised as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and within his lifetime his influence was widespread across Europe. He composed numerous concertos for the violin and other … Continue reading Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicholas Tulp1632Baroque, Dutch Golden AgeOil on canvasMauritshuis Art Museum, The Hague, The Netherlands Posed awkwardly in a pyramid seven men with bright, white ruffs are watching Dr Tulp intently as he facilitates and anatomy lesson. Dr Tulp commands the righthand side of the painting, as he demonstrates on a male … Continue reading The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicholas Tulp by Rembrandt
Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph1656Baroque, Dutch Golden AgeOil on canvasLocation: Schloss Wilhelmshone, Kassel, Hesse, Germany Rembrandt’s biblical paintings are cited as his most masterful work and in this scene we see Joseph, as a chief advisor to the Pharaoh, bringing his sons to Jacob’s, his father, deathbed to receive the family blessing. Ostensibly guided … Continue reading Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph by Rembrandt
Nisi Dominus1726Baroque https://youtu.be/GFoT6UUNLZc Antonio VivaldiBaroqueBorn: 4 March 1678, Venice, ItalyNationality: ItalianDied: 28 July 1741, Vienna, Austria Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was a composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher and cleric. He is recognised as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and within his lifetime his influence was widespread across Europe. He composed numerous concertos for the violin and … Continue reading Nisi Dominus by Antonio Vivaldi
Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer and musician of the Baroque era. Best known for his instrumental compositions such as the Brandenburg Concertos and for vocal music such as St Matthew Passion. Since a Bach revival in the 19th century he has been regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time
Telemann was a composer and multi-instrumentalist. He became a composer against his family’s wishes and was almost self-educated musically. Before settling in Hamburg in 1721 as a musical director of the city’s five main churches, he held important positions in Leipzig, Eisenach, and Frankfurt. He is one of the most prolific composers in history and considered to be one of the leading composers of the time
The tiny panoramic picture measuring only 15.4 x31.6 cm is an anamorphic view of the town of Delft...
Scarlatti was a composer, primarily of the Baroque era...
Pastorale in E Minor1738Baroque https://youtu.be/7mUb_rnsCDg Domenico ScarlattiBaroqueBorn: 26 October 1685, Naples, ItalyNationality: ItalianDied: 23 July 1757, Madrid, Spain Scarlatti was a composer, primarily of the Baroque era he was also influential in the development of the Classical style. He composed a wide variety of musical forms but he is best known for his sonatas. Scarlatti … Continue reading Pastorale in E Minor by Domenico Scarlatti
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was a composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher, and cleric. He is recognised as one of the greatest Baroque composers...
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was a composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher, and cleric. He is recognised as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and within his lifetime his influence was widespread...
Rembrandt’s life and work were fuelled by an intense psychological study of people, objects, and their surroundings and a strong Christian devotion. Incredibly gifted, Rembrandt became a master of portraiture, historical, mythological, and biblical sense from a very young age. His techniques and use of materials was sensitive and spontaneous. His everchanging approach to colour, composition, and shadow produced powerfully moving and natural moments of the human existence. His mastery of light and texture emphasized emotional depth weaved a common theme through all his work confirming his status as one of art’s greatest and innovative masters...
Telemann was a composer and multi-instrumentalist. He became a composer against his family’s wishes and was almost self-educated musically. Before settling in Hamburg in 1721 as a musical director of the city’s five main churches, he held important positions in Leipzig, Eisenach, and Frankfurt. He is one of the most prolific composers in history and considered to be one of the leading composers of the time...
Purcell was a composer of a uniquely English form of Baroque music which incorporated Italian and French elements. He is one of the greatest English composers and the most famous before the 20th century’s Elgar, Williams, and Britten...
Telemann was a composer and multi-instrumentalist. He became a composer against his family’s wishes and was almost self-educated musically...
Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer and musician of the Baroque era. Best known for his instrumental compositions such as the Brandenburg Concertos and for vocal music such as St Matthew Passion. Since a Bach revival in the 19th century he has been regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time...
Telemann was a composer and multi-instrumentalist. He became a composer against his family’s wishes and was almost self-educated musically. Before settling in Hamburg in 1721 as a musical director of the city’s five main churches, he held important positions in Leipzig, Eisenach, and Frankfurt. He is one of the most prolific composers in history and considered to be one of the leading composers of the time...
Corelli was a violinist and composer of the Baroque era. His music was significant in the development of the modern genres of sonata and concerto as well as the rise in the pre-eminence of the violin and the coalescing of the instruments tonality and functional harmony....
Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer and musician of the Baroque era. Best known for his instrumental compositions such as the Brandenburg Concertos and for vocal music such as St Matthew Passion. Since a Bach revival in the 19th century he has been regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time....
Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer and musician of the Baroque era...
Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer and musician of the Baroque era...
Rembrandt was a draughtsman, painter, and printmaker. He is considered one of the most important visual artists in history....
Le quattro Stagioni (the Four Seasons) is four violin concerti composed by Antonio Vivaldi. Each concerto gives a musical impression to a season
In 1527 Europe, religion had the power to direct and inform the content and climate of society’s art output.
Artist: Caravaggio Born: 29 September 1571, Milan, Italy Nationality: Italian Movement: Baroque Died: 18 July 1610, Porto Ercole, Italy
Title: The Calling of St Matthew Date: 1599-1600 Movement: Baroque Media: Oil on canvas Location: San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
About the Jez of It 