Jacob Hendrick Maris - Landscape with Wind Mills [1890-95]

Jacob Hendrick Maris - Landscape with Wind Mills [1890-95], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

Jacob Hendrick Maris (The Hague, 1837 – Carlsbad, 1899) was the elder brother of Mattijs and Willem Maris. He studied in The Hague and Antwerp. From 1866 to 1871 he lived in Paris and then he settled in The Hague. 

[Oil on canvas, 46 x 73 cm]

Moses van Uyttenbroeck - Landscape with Mythological Figures [1628]

Moses van Uyttenbroeck - Landscape with Mythological Figures [1628], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

It is not clear whether Uyttenbroeck intended to represent a particular mythological subject here. The scene has been described as the Nurture of Bacchus, but it could equally well be a rustic love scene such as that of Daphnis and Chloe. The artist is not known to have visited Italy. The classical buildings and the two columns on the right could be based on one of the many engraves views of Roman monuments available in the Netherlands.

[Oil on oak, 56 x 86.4 cm]

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - A Flood [c.1870-75]

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot - A Flood [c.1870-75], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

A river runs from the left of the picture to the bottom right corner. The restricted colour range is typical of Corot's late work. The predominance of greys combined with the numerous reflections on the surface of the river help to obscure the meeting of land and water. This late, possibly unfinished, painting was first described in Robaut's 1905 catalogue of Corot's work as Le Cap Boisé, (The Wooded Headland).

[Oil on canvas, 54 x 65.1 cm]

Jan Steen - A Man Blowing Smoke at Drunken Woman [c.1660-65]

Jan Steen - A Man Blowing Smoke at Drunken Woman [c.1660-65], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

The woman has fallen asleep with a glass in one hand and a pipe in the other. The two men seem to mock her state, and the picture may be intended to illustrate the saying 'De Wijn is een spotter' (Wine is a Mocker). This picture was probably painted in the early 1660s. Steen often painted pictures on the theme of female drunkenness.

[Oil on oak, 30.2 x 24.8 cm]

Domenico Beccafumi - The Story of Papirius [c.1550]

Domenico Beccafumi - The Story of Papirius [c.1550], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

This unusual subject has recently been identified as the story of the boy Papirius, who accompanied his father to the senate, and was sworn to secrecy concerning the debate. Questioned by his mother (left), he claimed they had discussed whether it would be better for men to have two wives, or women two husbands. The next day, she rallied the matrons of Rome to petition the senate that women might have two husbands.The senators were astonished and outraged until Papirius intervened to unravel the mystery (centre). The jovial classical subject is of a kind favoured for the decoration of domestic interiors in the Renaissance period. Beccafumi included many identifiable Roman monuments among which are the Colosseum (centre) and Castel Sant' Angelo (right).

[Oil on wood, 74 x 137.8 cm]

Dante Bertini - Standing Nude

Dante Bertini - Standing Nude, a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

Born in Mantua, this notable Italian painter first studied with the renowned figural painter, Angelo Dall’Oca Bianca, in Verona. Bertini specialised in genre paintings, landscapes and still-lives painted in a fluid style and with a characteristic soft and harmonious palette. This beautifully-composed figural work showcases Bertini’s bravura brushwork and expresses the artist’s lyrical appreciation of his young subject. 

[Oil on canvas, 19.5 x 14.5 inches]

Kyffin Williams - Welsh Chapel Above Deiniolen [1972]

Kyffin Williams - Welsh Chapel Above Deiniolen [1972], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

Sir John "Kyffin" Williams (Llangefni, Anglesey, May 9, 1918 – Pwllfanogl, September 1, 2006) was a Welsh landscape painter who lived at Pwllfanogl, Llanfairpwll on the Island of Anglesey. Williams is widely regarded as the defining artist of Wales during the 20th century. His works typically drew inspiration from the Welsh landscape and farmlands. His works appear in many galleries all over Britain and is on permanent exhibition in Oriel Ynys Mon, Anglesey. He was President of the Royal Cambrian Academy and was appointed a member of the Royal Academy in 1974. He was awarded the OBE for his services to the arts in 1982 and a KBE in 1999.