Neo-Romanticism

The most famous and significant English sculptor of the post-war period, one of the founders of modernist British sculpture. Moore significantly influenced the gradual transformation of British sculpture from provincial to avant-garde, which not only corresponded to European concepts of modern art, but also introduced its themes and means of plastic expression.Moore became world-famous thanks to his sculptures designed for open space, which are installed in many large cities around the world. These works, depicting mainly semi-abstract human figures, impress you with the harmony of their forms and musicality of smooth, winding lines. They reveal the eternal themes of the beauty of nature and the attractiveness of the female body, the spiritual closeness of a man and a woman, the selfless love of a mother for her child - all that makes our world more beautiful.The sculptor preferred to cut his works from a whole piece of wood or stone, and began to use plaster and bronze casting only in the late period of his career. In addition to sculpture, Moore is known as a wonderful draftsman. His most significant works were impressive images of London citizens hiding in subway stations during Nazi bombings.

A French artist, a painter and graphic artist, master of book illustration, theater and cinema set designer. The art of Leonor Fini left a significant mark in the culture of France. She participated in all major exhibitions of representatives of the avant-garde art movements, along with Ernst, Dali, Picasso, Brauner and others, painted portraits of her famous contemporaries. L. Fini is often called Dali’s feminine side; the Spanish genius of Surrealism himself highly appreciated the artist’s paintings. Not joining any groups, Leonor adhered to feminist principles, was an example of what an independent woman can achieve. Nine documentaries were filmed about her and her paintings; one of them, “The Cruel Legend”, was created in 1951. Fashion designers, such as Coco Chanel, specially designed clothes for her. Many poets and writers devoted their paintings to the works of Leonor and to Leonor herself; among them, there were Paul Eluard, Jean Cocteau, Alberto Moravia, Pablo Neruda. The artist illustrated over 50 books - Shakespeare, Baudelaire, Nerval, and others. The most famous are her works on the erotic novel by Dominic Ory (Pauline Reazh) “History O”. She also created costumes and entourage for the films of Fellini and Castellani, and became the author of the bottle of the popular perfume “Shocking”. Fini’s friend and painter Max Ernst characterized the creative manner and personality of Leonor Fini most succinctly and precisely, though very briefly, “Italian aggressiveness and scandalous elegance, fantasy and passion”. This characteristic is complemented by a phrase from the monograph by Jean Cocteau, “In her unrealistic realism, Fini summarizes her entire last period, more real than the reality itself, which is its sign.” The artist occasionally rejected the title of surrealist that stuck to her, however everyone kept on thinking her so till her death. Perhaps, that is why Fini often changed her style, worked in various techniques, and appeared in the media, disowning the name “surrealism” regarding her art. At the same time, the fame of the artist became wider; her works were exhibited at major galleries and museums around the world.

Synopsis.A famous Polish painter, graphic artist, master of arts and crafts, writer and playwright, a talented teacher.He was born into the family of a professional sculptor. After the death of his mother, he was brought up in the family of Stankevichs – the maternal line relatives, which gave Stanisław a good education. Despite the fact that Krakow was a provincial town of Austria-Hungary, it retained the best traditions of Polish culture, and the Stankevichs' house was constantly visited by people close to art. Here the future artist got acquainted with his mentor, famous painter Jan Matejko, who noticed the artistic talent of the boy.Stanisław Wyspianski played one of the leading roles in the cultural movement "Young Poland", being engaged in the revival and popularization of national culture. Critics even call him "the fourth Polish prophet" along with such outstanding cultural figures as Mickiewicz, Slovak and Krasinsky. The artist is known as the author of several monumental murals and mosaics in the churches of Lviv, Krakow and other cities. He was an active participant of the influential art community "Art" and the editor of the progressive magazine "Life", and his satire play "Wedding", mocking the shortcomings of contemporary Polish society, was very popular. Stanisław Wyspianski made a great contribution to the development of Polish art and national self-consciousness through his versatile creative work.

Walter Crane is an English painter and graphic artist, illustrator, designer, writer and publicist. Walter Crane achieved popularity as a children's book illustrator, talented not only in illustrating novels of classics but also his own works.The first teacher of the artist was his own family member - his father Thomas Crane, who professionally studied painting and was known as a wonderful miniature master. In his father's studio, Walter took his first steps in the visual arts, drawing numerous portraits, scenes from everyday life, nature - everything that surrounded him. Noticing his son's ability to paint, he sent him to study at the engraving workshop of William Linton, whose radical moods influenced the worldview of the beginning artist to a large extent. In particular, made him interested in socialist ideas.The artist was engaged in the design of several magazines, created sketches of tapestries, textiles, carpets, mosaics, ceramics and stained glass. He was a manager of the exhibitions of the Society of Arts and Crafts, which had a great influence on the development of applied art and design throughout the world. Crane was also engaged in teaching, wrote several scientific works in the field of design, which were in high demand throughout Europe. Since 1898, the artist held a responsible post as a head of the Royal College of Art in London. The artist's works are in the Louvre; the Uffizi Gallery (Florence) ordered him a self-portrait.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: private collection.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: Art Gallery and Museum Kelvingrove, Glasgow, Scotland.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: New Pinakothek, Munich, Germany.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: private collection.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, England.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: Tate Gallery, London, England.

Mediums: oil, canvas. Location: Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.