This is a re-post of some tiny pieces of film of four of the giants of C19 French art. – using extended and finer quality footage. The final film fragment shows famed Impressionist painter of water lilies, Claude Monet (1840-1926) first talking to a gentleman outdoors, and then painting en plein air at the edge of a pond in his garden at Giverny.

Lowy specializes in art conservation, work on historical reproduction and contemporary frames, giltwood and antique frame restoration, as well as conservation of antique and period frames. Their skilled conservators, carvers and gilders, show the same passion, dedication and uncompromising standards as their forbearers, who started the company over 100 years ago. Their client roster includes renowned museums, fine art galleries and art auction houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s. They are also frequently called upon to care for prestigious private collections including those of David Rockefeller, Ralph Lauren, Richard Manoogian and Mrs Randolph Hearst. As described at lowyonline.com they also collaborate with top architects and interior designers on elements such as cornices, mantle pieces, picture frames and framed mirrors. Over the years they have served artists such as Salvador Dali, Alfonso Ossorio, Arbit Blatas, Leon Kroll, George L. K. Morris and Paul Jenkins. They have also worked with the estates of Maurice Prendergast, William Glackens, George Bellows, John Sloan and Max Weber.

Their conservation department has successfully conserved paintings by a wide array of artists including El Greco, John Singer Sargent, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Albert Bierstadt, Franz Kline and Ad Reinhardt, to name a few. They have also reframed many pieces including Paul Cezanne’s The Bather, Vincent van Gogh’s Portrait of Joseph Roulin and three large paintings by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo for The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A Brief History of Gilding:

The gilding, or metal leafing process, dates back to 2300 BC. This is when artisans discovered a way to hammer gold into fine sheets and adhere them to objects. Images of goldsmiths making gold leaves appear in Egyptian paintings, and metal leafing appears in Phoenician and Early Chinese artwork. Metal leafing appears constantly throughout art history, including Byzantine icons and mosaics. It was also a staple of Medieval illuminated manuscripts, and as a widely popular finish for Baroque period sculpture, frames and furniture.

Historically the gold or silver would have been placed between sheets of parchment, and pounded with wooden mallets until it was thin and malleable. The sheets were then cut down and placed between sheets of paper for their protection. Today’s technology allows the production of micro-thin sheets from a number of metals and alloys. These can easily take the shape of the item being gilded such as sculptures, frames, jewelry and mixed mediaartworks. Metal leafing comes in many varieties including gold, silver copper, as well as variegated or irregular color patterns of greens, reds and blues. It can be made from genuine gold, genuine silver or a composite of metals created to have the look of gold.

How long does it takes to work on a piece. How many pieces do you work on at any given time and what do you specialize in doing there?

When I was first hired, I remember the Director telling me to leave everything I learned behind, and that I was about to upgrade. It has been such a wonderful and creative experience, getting to finish some of the most extraordinary frames.   It’s very hard to say how many I do in a week, but when it’s busy it can be up to 50 to 100 frames, depending on the project. In most cases we will have a very large to frame to work on, and it will take a team to work on each step for completion. Since starting there I have been promoted to Traffic and Production Manager. That means I’m responsible for what comes in and making sure it leaves in good shape, back to the client. So, on a day to day basis it can be very hectic coordinating pickups and deliveries to and from some of the major museums, auction houses, and galleries here in New York and around the world.   

My career got started in Atlanta, and while I was in school I got hired by a frame shop. I had no experience but watched and learned from the other gilders working there. You need a great deal of patience, as the sheets are extremely thin. If you are too rough with the sheet it would disintegrate in your hands. It’s a very thin layer of gold and you are putting it on the frame. Any mistake can result in having to do it all over again. It’s really a form of meditation in a way, while you are doing it. You need a lot of concentration. It has influenced my other work in wanting to achieve a great deal of patience and concentration. That is how I approach my work now, by using that same philosophy. You can see the results in some of my work so far. This is the first stage of what I have done so far. I can push it even further than what I have. Being in New York allows me to push my work, and I can do some complex pieces of art. It’s all very exciting. I use imitation gold and metal leaf, as it’s a lot thicker and easier to use, although the processes are different between the two. With gold leaf you put water on the clay and then the gold leaf on top of it. With metal leaf you put varnish on first, like a paste, and then it sticks with the metal leaf. Depending on the size of the frame it could take a group of people two weeks to complete, but sometimes we do 100 in a week.

Gilding has been around for such a long time, it even dates back to the Egyptian period. A lot of them used it with primitive tools. They used a tiger’s tooth to furnish gold, or press it into the object. The harder you press onto gold, the brighter it gets. They would use stones to press or smash the gold into the clay. All of their artifacts have been gilded, from decorative pieces as well as with frames. These days it’s very rare for artists to use it. I consider it unique that I use it. It’s a specialized skill. Very few artists will use it in their work.

Gourmet cake designs for a wedding range from elegant simplicity to masterful intricacies and just about every imagined design in between. The first thing you need to do in coming up with your design is to decide what type of icing you want for your gourmet cake. Is it butter cream, rolled fondant or fudge? Your icing choice is important because that is the base of the entire cake design.

You may want to tint the icing to bring out the design that’s on top of the gourmet cake creating a wonderfully dramatic look. This is an effect that has become better received in recent times as brides are more willing to think beyond traditional white wedding cake. The designs can range from a timeless Swiss dot to incorporating a part of the wedding dress on top of the cake. These embellishments are hand-piped with a pastry bag onto the cake with butter cream or royal icing.

Another design that’s been popular in the past is monogramming – which can be done in a specific font or style that may have been used on the invitations or throughout other parts of the wedding. In this case, the monogram would be replicated on the sugar plaque and placed on one of the tiers. Monogram gourmet cake toppers add personalized style and flair to any type of wedding cake.

Fresh flowers have been the mainstay of décor for wedding cakes over the years. In the past there was an emphasis on cascading flowers that flow from the top tier of the gourmet cake and wrap their way down toward the bottom but more recently flowers have become more of an accent than a main attraction for the cakes. Edible sugar flowers are also available which have a porcelain-like appearance. These flowers are extremely labor intensive and will reflect in the cost of the cake.

Where you have the reception can influence your decision for the design of the gourmet cake as well. Recently for a reception at an art gallery in Atlanta, we created a cake that was representative of the great impressionist painter Claude Monet. Food coloring was used in place of paint and hand brushed on rolled fondant.  It was presented behind a picture frame to look like a painting. This gourmet cake turned out to be a huge favorite with the guests.

Set on the Right Bank, Montmartre is famous, or some say infamous for being the centre of the bohemian and decadent Parisian lifestyle that took off in the 19th century.

The beautiful, but now slightly dilapidated Elysees Montmartre Theatre, the oldest can-can dance theatre in the world can be found there, as can the famous Moulin Rouge. The venue opened its doors in 1889 and captured the spirit of the time, which was then immortalised in canvas by Toulouse-Lautrec. The symbol of Montmartre is the Chat Noir, or Black Cat, which was a 19th century cabaret, which very much depicted the ambience of the time.

The area was also the centre of the art fraternity of Paris, with the likes of Salvador Dalí, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh, all having lived or worked there at some point. During the First World War thanks to the artistic and intellectual residents of Montmartre and their favourite café Lapin Agile, the creative and cultural aspect of the city stayed alive.

Although it is easy to get swept up in the tourist herd route heading straight up Montmartre to the Sacre-Coeur Basilica, stopping only to see the Moulin Rouge, actually the nicest way to see the area is to take oneself off the map route and explore Montmartre’s steep cobbled streets, where you will find one of the cities most interesting and historical districts.  

Starting off at the bottom of the hill is the Boulevard de Clichy; this is where the area has retained its sexy theme, except now bars, sex shops and peep shows have replaced the can-can.

You can walk up from any point at the base of the hill, but if you aren’t feeling so energetic then its easy to catch the Metro from Blanche (Moulin Rouge) or Anvers Metro. Alternatively you can catch the quaint ‘funiculaire’, a mini train that slowly ascends and takes you through the districts narrow cobbled streets where you get a great feel of the ‘village’ of Montmartre.

Arriving to the Basilica Sacre-Couer (Sacred Heart) at the top of the hill is very rewarding, not only for the beautiful basilica but also turn around and enjoy the views across the city of Paris. The influences are both Roman and Byzantine, although construction only took place a century ago, to commemorate the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, opening its doors in 1919. The entrance to Sacre-Couer is flanked by grandiose sculptures of Joan of Arc astride her horses, and King Louis the Blessed. Above the entrance a statue of Jesus Christ looks down on those who pass through the arched entrance.

Entry is free to the Sacre-Couer, although there is a donation box and it’s definitely worth a visit inside, you can also climb up the 300 steps to the bell tower which houses a nearly 19 ton bell, one of the heaviest in the world. There is also a meditation garden and fountain within the grounds.

Sadly the Sacre-Couer is a tourist magnet, so it’s best to visit first thing in the morning. The church opens daily from 7.30am.

Following the streets to the left of the Sacre-Couer you will come to the Place du Tertre; it’s quite touristy, but pleasant; artists fill the square painting the portraits of eager visitors. There are many restaurants and cafés, but be warned you will pay tourist prices here.

A short walk away is the Espace Montemartre, a museum dedicated to the Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dalí who spent much of his life in Paris.

And to top it all, well not literally, is Paris’ own vineyard, the Clos Montmartre, at 12 Rue Cortot. The first vines were planted in 1933 and now there are over 2000. Wine from the vineyard is on sale locally in Montmartre and also in the vineyard’s museum. Every year there is a festival and market to celebrate the harvest, the Fête des Vendanges, which takes place in October. It sets off with a parade and ends up with a music concert in the Place de Willette.

Great although not cheap dinner can be found around the Montmartre district, which was the original home of the Parisian ‘bistrot’ or bistro. The story goes that in the early nineteenth century when the Cossacks occupied the city, they always insisted on being served quickly, shouting “Bistrot!” which meant “hurry up!”

If you want to eat bistro-style in Montmartre we recommend Café Zazir, Les Deux Moulins or La Mouscoute. The Maison Rose, on Rue Cortot, offers a good set menu and is decently priced. You should also try to visit the Caves de Abbesses, a fabulous wine shop where you can sample the wines and wash them down with some bread and cheese.

The best way to stay while you are in Paris on a city break is to rent a holiday apartment in Paris – an economic alternative to the expensive hotels.

Sightseeing landmarks of interest:

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Paris, commonly known as the Sacre-Couer

The Moulin Rouge and beautiful Elysees Montmartre Theatre
The Espace Montemartre Dali Museum
The Clos Montmartre vineyards
The Musée de Montmarte

Every painter has left a mark in history. The unique style of painting of every artist was never repeated by another artist. There has been this secret of creative work were no artists ever had the same style of painting. There are many artists who we need to know about and their paintings if you are art lover or an artist yourself.

There are some famous artists who you need to study for their style of painting. One cannot discuss all of the artists here in this one article but there are some few artists you can learn about. To name a few ‘Pablo Picasso’ (1881 – 1973) he is to art history as giant earthquake with eternal aftermath. ‘Leonardo Da Vinci’ (1452 – 1516) for generation that have passed and that are to come he will be forever known for the author of the most famous painting of all time the “Gioconda” or “Mona Lisa”. ‘Claude Monet’ (1840 – 1926) when art lover look at his painting they tend to forget the history of art as they see only the overwhelming beauty that emanates from the canvas, ignoring the complex techniques and composition he used in his work. These are few of the nineteenth century famous artists and there are many who will never be forgotten or ignored.

Let’s talk about the famous artist who is from Britain. John da Costa (1867 – 1931) a special baby by birth he has achieved milestones which is admired by all people in the world. His work constitutes many paintings but his art works also played an important role in his work.

John Da Costa painting includes ‘”The Glen Walker Sisters” and “Idleness” which had created immensely high auction prices in the British.

John Da Costa is famous all over England and he is one artist who has gained a great reputation even among the kids of the country.

Artist live on with even after their death, their paintings keep them alive in the present world. Their self expression with their painting on the canvas with the colors speaks a million words. Even today artist speak a language that is universal and understood by all art lovers.

like “The great depression” the “blue period”?

i like IMPRESSIONISM

…Vincent Van gogh?
Claude Monet is painting impressionist painting very well. Let us see some paintings of his artworks:

http://www.e-softtech.com/Claude_Monet.php

But Vincent Van Gogh is also painting very good impressionist paintins like the followings :

http://www.e-softtech.com/Vincent_van_Gogh.php

So who is the better ?

What were Monets aims and intentions in creating his artworks?
Monet’s techniques and materials
What was Claude Monet’s favorite subject matter ?