Jan-Baptist Huysmans

"Taking Tea" 19th Century Orientalism Portrait Oil Painting on Panel

Circa 1860

After Napoleon introduced Europe to the different and exotic life of the Middles East, it was Delacroix who was the first to return. He brought back vivid images to an unbelieving pu...

Immerse yourself in the regal allure of Chinese history with this captivating pair of framed reverse glass paintings depicting a Chinese Emperor and Empress...

Jan Frederik Pieter Portielje (1829-1908) was a Dutch painter known for his remarkable attention to detail and his ability to capture the essence of his subjects with precision and realism. Born in Amsterdam, Portielje displayed an early talent for art and pursued his passion through formal training at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium. Portielje’s expertise lay in portraiture, particularly in capturing the intricacies of human expression and the beauty of traditional attire. His artwork often depicted scenes from everyday life, showcasing individuals from various backgrounds and cultures. One notable painting that exemplifies his skill is “Gypsy Girl.” In “Gypsy Girl,” Portielje presents a captivating portrait that possesses an astonishing level of realism. The painting depicts a young Romani girl adorned with vibrant jewelry and dressed in traditional clothing. Portielje’s meticulous brushwork and attention to detail make the portrait appear as if it were a photograph captured by a modern camera. The rich colors of the girl’s attire, combined with the intricate jewelry, create a visual feast for the viewer. Portielje’s ability to convey texture and fabric is remarkable, as he captures the folds and drapes of the girl’s clothing...

The painting is signed on the bottom left side. Angelo Asti, a renowned Italian artist, established himself as a true maestro of portraiture during the late 19th and early 20th centu...

Karen Offutt's (US based) "Luster" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a portrait of a woman on an abstracted background. The painting is framed, with overall dimensio...

Literary Origins of Angelica The subject of this painting is Angelica, a princess from the epic chivalric romances of the Italian Renaissance. She first appears in Matteo Maria Boiardo’s Orlando Innamorato (1483) and reappears famously in Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso (1532). In these poems – part of the Matter of France cycle of Charlemagne and his paladins – Angelica’s extraordinary beauty ensnares many knights, including Orlando (Roland) and his cousin Rinaldo, sparking rivalries and adventures. Ariosto’s narrative particularly highlights Angelica’s tumultuous journey: at one point she is stripped and chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster (a scene mirroring the myth of Andromeda) before being dramatically rescued by the valiant knight Ruggiero on his winged horse. Ultimately, however, Angelica chooses her own destiny. She falls in love with a humble Saracen soldier, Medoro, whom she nurses back to health, and she returns with him to her far-off Asian kingdom – an affair that drives the heartbroken Orlando to madness. This independent resolution (marrying outside the circle of Christian knights) made Angelica an emblem of feminine agency and romantic idealism in Renaissance literature. Her story remained popular in art and literature through the centuries, symbolizing the allure and elusiveness of love. Kronberg’s Portrayal and Composition In Julius Kronberg...

Aixa Oliveras' (US based) "Sacred Heart" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a model's hands delicately holding pink flowers above her hea...

Mia Bergeron's (US based) "Resist" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a woman, with straight across bangs, in profile where the bright light from a window casts her s...