Stories about painting, sculpture, architecture, history

 🖌️🎨 Artemisia Lomi Gentileschi (1593–1654) was an Italian Renaissance artist. Gentileschi is considered one of the most accomplished female artists of the 17th century, initially working in the style of Caravaggio. In an era when women had few opportunities to receive an art education or work as professional artists, Gentileschi became the first woman to become a member of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. She had an international clientele. Gentileschi worked as an émigré artist at the court of Charles I of England from 1638 to 1642, but it is believed she fled the country during the early stages of the English Civil War. Her whereabouts in subsequent years are unknown, but she reappeared in Naples in 1649. Her last known letter to one of her mentors dates from 1650 and indicates that she was still working as an artist. The artist's time of death is disputed, but her last known commission was completed in January 1654. #baroque #artist #painting #gentileschi

 🖌️🎨 Lucia Heffernan (b. 1966) is a Taiwanese artist who creates humorous scenes in a contemporary realist style. Lucia is originally from Taiwan, but has lived and worked in Utah, USA, for many years, specializing in depicting cute and funny animals, rodents, and birds, which, thanks to her boundless imagination, find themselves in situations that more closely reflect human life. Lucia believes laughter is the best medicine. Inspired by her love of animals, she creates whimsical, humorous, and unique oil paintings. In her engaging illustrations, Lucia depicts white mice, hoping thereby changing people's attitudes toward these rodents—after all, they, too, can be very cute and cuddly. Sometimes, however, the artist deviates from the rodent theme and includes cats, rabbits, chickens, ducklings, and piglets in her works. "My work is an expression and exploration of my lifelong fascination with animals. Through my paintings, I attempt to give animals a voice and individuality, ...