Ken Howard OBE RA (1932-2022)

Royal Academician painter Ken Howard studied at Hornsey School of Art from 1949-1953.

He then did his National Service with the Royal Marines before returning to study at the Royal College of Art from 1955-1958.

He went on to win a British Council Scholarship to Florence from 1958-1959.

Arthur Elsley | I'se biggest! 1892

The "I'se Biggest!", which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1892, won Arthur John Elsley’s considerable public acclaim, a small girl standing on tip-toe atop a thick book, comparing her height with that of a large St. Bernard Dog.

Later the painting had to be re-engraved to satisfy public demand.

Elsley continued to paint these good-natured dogs throughout his career, they appear in more than thirty of his paintings.

William Holman Hunt | The Awakening Conscience, 1853

The Awakening Conscience was conceived as the material counterpart to Hunt's The Light of the World (1851-3, Warden and Fellows of Keble College, Oxford).

Its inspiration was a verse from Proverbs:

'As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart'.

With his typical thoroughness, Hunt hired a room at Woodbine Villa, 7 Alpha Place, St John's Wood, a 'maison de convenance', to use as the setting.

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema | Stile artistico

Considerato uno dei pittori Vittoriani più influenti, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) costituisce una presenza molto particolare nel panorama artistico del XIX secolo; lo stile ed i contenuti delle sue opere manifestano allo stesso tempo elementi antichi e moderni, visitati in chiave personale, tanto che l'Art Journal del 1870 scrisse su di lui: «Alma-Tadema è difficile da classificare: non appartiene a nessuna scuola, o per meglio dire, è lui stesso una scuola».

Peregrine Heathcote, 1973 | Glamour and intrigue

Peregrine Heathcote is a contemporary British painter known for his cinematic and narrative works that blend mid-century glamour with modern sensibilities. His academic realist style, featuring vibrant oil paints and rich colors, creates a world of timeless luxury and intrigue.

Early life and training: Born in London, Heathcote spent his early childhood in Britain and Dubai, which he credits with fostering his creative imagination.

As a child, he took classes at the Heatherly School of Art before receiving classical training at the Florence Fine Art Academy in Italy, where he graduated in 1994.

Paul Hedley, 1947 | Figurative painter

British painter Paul Hedley paints with compulsion, subtly influenced by his environment and daily experiences.

His paintings show his incredible ability to describe figurative form in the context of good quality and interesting compositions.

His brushwork is very decisive and colourful yet the effect is full of intimacy and serenity.

Paul Hedley was born and brought up in Chatham, Kent.

William Turner | Il pittore della luce

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) è stato un pittore ed incisore Inglese.

Appartenente al movimento romantico, si può dire che il suo stile abbia posto le basi per la nascita dell'Impressionismo.

Nonostante ai suoi tempi fosse visto come una figura controversa, attualmente è considerato l'artista che ha elevato l'arte della pittura paesaggistica ad un livello tale da poter competere con la maggiormente considerata pittura storica.

Anche se è diventato famoso per le sue opere ad olio, Turner è anche stato uno dei più grandi maestri britannici nella realizzazione di paesaggi all'acquerello.

È conosciuto con il soprannome di Il pittore della luce.

David Garrett | Smile (Charlie Chaplin song) 🌹

In the final scene of Modern Times, Charlie and the gamine set off down the road to a new life.

When they get up off the grass verge to go, he pauses and points to the corners of his mouth, indicating that she should smile.

"Smile" has become a popular standard since its original use in Charlie Chaplin's film and has been recorded by numerous artists.

"Smile" is a song based on the theme song used in the soundtrack for Charlie Chaplin's 1936 film Modern Times.