Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn
Dutch, 1606–1669 Baroque
Rembrandt’s paintings and engrav-
ings were popular during his lifetime.
Using color and light to create a
sharp yet opaque effect, he evoked
curiosity about the human condition
through his intriguing, intimate por-
traits.
Pierre Auguste Renoir
French, 1841–1919 Impressionism
Renoir and Monet worked together
in 1869 to produce the first true
Impressionist paintings, using clear,
contrasting colors to capture the
effects of natural light, and broken
brush strokes to suggest texture.
Having grown up in poverty, Renoir
aspired unapologetically to financial
success. He reputedly said to his art
dealer,“I want to paint stunning pic-
tures that you can sell for very high
prices.”
Peter Paul Rubens
Flemish, 1577–1640 Baroque
The combination of a first-rate
Classical education with an innate
visual genius made Rubens the pre-
eminent painter of Catholic Europe
during the early 17th Century. He
opened a highly successful art work-
shop, the largest Europe has ever
seen.
Georges Pierre Seurat
French, 1859–1891 Pointillism
Seurat stood apart from his
Impressionist contemporaries in his
effort to separate colors as compo-
nents of sources of light. Inspired by
the process of textile making, he
applied paint only with the tip of his
brush, juxtaposing dots of color to
form a coherent whole.
John Singer Sargent
American, 1856–1925
Sargent combined the influences
of the Old Masters, Realism,
Impressionism, and Symbolism to
create a style all his own. Many of his
works were criticized for their blatant
self-display when first exhibited.
David Teniers II
Flemish, 1610–1690 Baroque
As court painter and curator for
the Governors of the Netherlands,
Teniers made paintings of the
Governors’ galleries, which included
works by such artists as Titian,
Raphael, Palma, Ribera, Giorgione,
Van Dyck, and Gossart.
Tiziano Vecellio (Titian)
Italian, 1488–1576 High
Renaissance
Titian’s work was renowned across
Europe during his lifetime for its bold
use of color and light, which set him
apart from other Renaissance
painters, who began with form.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
French, 1864–1901
Post-Impressionism
An outcast who found a place in
Paris nightclubs like the infamous
Moulin Rouge, Toulouse-Lautrec
used abstraction and strong, often
livid colors to depict the illicit sexual
energy of the
demimonde.
Anthonie van Dyck
Flemish, 1559–1641 Baroque
A student of Rubens known for his
portraits, van Dyck is adept at prob-
ing the human soul and depicting
subtleties of emotion in an under-
stated yet polished way.
Vincent van Gogh
Dutch, 1853–1890
Post-Impressionism
Famous for depicting ordinary, hum-
ble natural things with a passionate
energy, van Gogh expanded the lim-
its of artistic expression. By the time
of his suicide at age 37, he had sold
only a few of his hundreds of paint-
ings.
Jan Vermeer
Dutch, 1632–1675 Baroque
Called a radical and a prophet by
critics of his time, Vermeer is known
for his photographic, personal por-
trayal of solitary figures caught in
acts of private contemplation.
Girl
with a Pearl Earring suggests a direct
connection with the subject through
her evocative gaze.
John William Waterhouse
English, 1849–1917
Pre-Raphaelite
Born in Italy and educated in Britain,
Waterhouse used visual motifs
whose symbolism was familiar to
and readily understood by his audi-
ence. Many of his works were used as
tools of social instruction.
10
Roku Gallery Collection
