"Courtyard of Innsbruck Castle"
Albrecht Durer

Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) was a German painter and print maker. He was a the most prominent and influential Northern Renaissance Artist. He was however more famous for his accomplishments in the graphic arts of woodcuts and engravings, than his paintings. And was the first artist to achieve such recognition through engraving.

"Old Man Praying"
Rembrandt

Born in Leyden, Holland, in 1606. Rembrandt's  paintings, drawings and etchings have been admired and collected since the 17th century. With more than 40 portraits commissioned in 1632-1633, Rembrandt was a prosperous artist. But after the death of his wife in 1642 his fortunes began to decline. Though Rembrandt still received some important commissions until his death in 1669.

"Danseuse sur Scene"
Edgar Degas

Edgar was a French painter and sculptor born in 1834, he had an interest in Photography and Japanese prints, which probably influenced much of his work in his composition, use of unusual viewpoints and the way he portrayed movement. In the last 20 years he was almost blind and kept very much to himself creating lithe wax sculptures that were later cast in bronze. He died in 1917 and is now one of the most popular 19th century artists.

"Portrait of a Young Man"
Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh is the most well know of the postimpressionist painters. He used vibrant colours and thick paint to create patterns of lines across the surface of his pictures. Unfortunately Vincent was not recognized in his lifetime and lived in poverty, depending on his brother, Theo for money. Suffering from depression, Vincent eventually committed suicide in 1980. But his influence on artists of the early 20th century was enormous.

"Mona Lisa"
Leonardo da Vinci

Born in 1452, Leonardo is perhaps the most versatile genius who ever lived. Not only was he one of the greatest Renaissance painters, but was also an engineer, naturalist, anatomist, mathematician, philosopher, sculptor and architect. Although Leonardo da Vinci is most famous for his artistic talents, he spent the last 10 years of his life devoted to scientific research. Though this included a considerable amount of scientific illustration.

"Ritratto di Giovane"
Thomas Gainsborough

Born in Suffolk in 1727, Thomas Gainsborough was one of the most accomplished portrait and landscape painters in England in the 18th century. In 1768, Gainsborough became a founding member of the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

Willem Velde is probably the most famous name in Marine painting. He was born in 1633 from a family of Dutch painters and worked with his father in England under the patronage of King Charles II. His paintings are recognized for their accuracy and detail. Some drawings were even made from boats in actual naval battles. His work has had great influence on the development of seascape painting in England.

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