Explore Artworks

Étude pour le Cercle de l’île de Puteaux (1907)

Henri Gervex (French, 1852–1929)

A loose sketch of figures gathered in a circle, bathed in dappled light. Quick brushstrokes suggest movement, laughter hanging in the air. The island’s edge blurs into the river, leaving just the energy of the moment.
Insecta Coleoptera Pl 292 (1879-1915)

Frederick DuCane Godman (English, 1834–1919)

A meticulous study of beetles, each exoskeleton rendered with precision—iridescent greens, deep blues, and polished browns. The delicate antennae and segmented legs suggest motion frozen in ink, a catalog of nature’s intricate designs. Every stroke serves science, yet the result hums with quiet vitality.
Die polycladen des golfes von Neapel und der angrenzenden meeres-abschnitte pl8 (1884)

Arnold Lang (Dutch, unknown)

Delicate polyclads glide across the page, their flattened forms revealing intricate patterns. These marine flatworms from the Gulf of Naples display nature’s precision—each undulating edge and subtle marking captured with scientific clarity. A hidden world of seafloor elegance unfolds in precise lines and careful shading.
Study For Nymphs Finding The Head Of Orpheus

John William Waterhouse (British, 1849-1917)

Nymphs gather in the dim forest, their faces lit with horror and fascination as they cradle Orpheus’ severed head. The water ripples around them, silent witness to the aftermath of violence. His lifeless eyes stare past them, still holding the echo of a song.
Mount of the Holy Cross (1873)

William Henry Holmes (American, 1846–1933)

Snow clings to the mountain’s ridges, forming a stark white cross against the granite. Below, shadows stretch across the valley as if bowing to the peak’s silent command. The light catches the ice just so—nature’s own cathedral, carved by wind and time.
The Adoration of the Magi (ca. 1320)

Giotto di Bondone (Italian, 1267–1337)

Three kings kneel before the newborn, their rich robes pooling on the rough stable floor. Gold glints in offered vessels as the child reaches toward the gifts. A donkey noses at straw in the shadows, unnoticed by the awestruck visitors. The scene hums with quiet reverence, earthly splendor bowing to divine simplicity.
Raspberries

William Mason Brown (American, 1828–1898)

Glossy raspberries tumble across the canvas, their plump forms catching the light. Each berry seems ready to burst, the deep reds and delicate fuzz almost tangible. A few leaves curl at the edges, adding a whisper of green to the rich, juicy scene. The fruit looks freshly picked, still holding the warmth of summer.
Fauna japonica Pl.108 (1833-1850)

Philipp Franz Balthasar von Siebold (German, 1796–1866)

Delicate wings unfold against crisp paper—a Japanese insect preserved in ink. Every vein, every subtle curve of its body rendered with scientific precision, yet alive with quiet grace. The specimen seems poised to take flight from the page, bridging worlds through meticulous lines.
The Birth of the Rose (1925)

Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale (English, 1872–1945)

A crimson rose unfurls from golden mist, petals trembling at the threshold between dream and flesh. A woman’s outstretched fingers hover near the bloom—not picking, not painting, but midwifing its impossible arrival into the world. Thorns curl like protective talons around the newborn flower.
Feierabend (1918)

Hiasl Maier-Erding (German, 1894–1933)

Workers trudge home under a heavy sky, their weary forms bending against the wind. Shadows stretch long across the road, merging with the coming dusk. The air hums with exhaustion and quiet relief—another day survived.
Frage an die Karten (1889)

Édouard Bisson (French, 1856–1945)

A woman leans over scattered cards, her fingers hovering above their cryptic symbols. The dim light catches her intent expression—half doubt, half longing—as if the answer lies just beyond the next turn. The air hums with possibility.
Study of Flesh Color and Gold (1888)

William Merritt Chase (American, 1849–1916)

Warm gold glows against soft skin, the brushstrokes loose yet deliberate. Light dances across the surface, blurring the line between flesh and gilded background. A quiet tension lingers—luxurious yet intimate, opulent yet fleeting.
St Cecilia

John William Waterhouse (British, 1849-1917)

A saint sits enraptured, fingers hovering above the strings. An angel leans close, whispering divine melodies only she can hear. The air hums with silent music, her face alight with celestial inspiration. Golden light spills across her robes, blurring the line between earthly devotion and heavenly communion.
The Fruit Seller

Victor Gabriel Gilbert (French, 1847–1935)

A woman arranges ripe peaches in her market stall, their golden skins catching the morning light. Around her, baskets overflow with cherries and plums, their colors vivid against the worn wood. The air hums with quiet commerce, the simple rhythm of daily life unfolding in this corner of the marketplace.
Under the orange tree

Virginie Demont-Breton (French, 1859–1935)

A woman sits beneath the gnarled branches of an orange tree, sunlight dappling her dress. The fruit hangs heavy, their scent mingling with warm earth. She leans slightly, as if listening to the leaves whisper—a quiet moment suspended between shade and gold.