What was childhood like for the well-to-do between 1842 and 1855 in Madrid and Seville? The Museo del Prado recently unveiled a special display of eight brilliant portraits that offer both answers and stunning beauty.

On view through October 2017 at Madrid’s Museo Nacional del Prado, “Childhood Unveiled” is a tantalizing display of artistic talent, historical fashion, and the nature of being young and wealthy between 1842 and 1855.

Antonio María Esquivel y Suárez de Urbina, “Raimundo Roberto and Fernando José,” 1855, oil on canvas, 145 x 103 cm. (c) Museo Nacional del Prado 2016

Carefully curated from the museum’s impressive collection of Spanish Romantic portraiture, “Childhood Unveiled” is a look into the reign of Isabel II “with the aim of emphasizing two of the most important centers for Romantic art in Spain: Madrid and Seville,” the museum writes. “These eight portraits reveal different interpretations of childhood, a theme that became particularly popular among Romantic painters in a reflection of their clients’ new interests. The display of this selection will also allow for the first public presentation of an almost unknown work by Esquivel that has recently been added to the Museum’s collection.”

To learn more, visit the Museo Nacional del Prado.

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Unveiled some 600 years ago at Saint Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent, “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” by the Van Eyck brothers is one of the most stunning paintings to have survived from the European Renaissance. Having been split into pieces and stolen several times, the masterpiece has recently been the subject of a major conservation effort, which continues to this day.
 
Measuring nearly 15 by 10 feet, the size of Hubert and Jan Van Eyck’s altarpiece “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” is but one small element of what makes a lasting impression upon viewers. Painted in 1432 and popularly known as “The Ghent Altarpiece,” the massive painting is without debate one of the most important and extraordinary paintings to have survived since the Renaissance. Executed masterfully in the then-cutting-edge medium of oil paint, the painting displays a number of Biblical episodes in near life-size and in strongly saturated hues. Twelve panels composed the original work, which boasts several hinged doors to allow opening and closing.
 

Hubert and Jan Van Eyck, “The Ghent Altarpiece (detail of God the Father),” 1432
oil on panel, 15 x 10 ft. (c) Saint Bavo’s Cathedral 2016

 
Unfortunately, the painting’s importance and beauty has also made it a target for thievery. In fact, the altarpiece has been split into separate parts several times. What is more, parts of the painting were stolen by both Napoleon and the Nazis. On the eve of the Second World War, in 1934, two of the work’s 12 panels were stolen — presumably by the Nazis. Sadly, only one of these has been recovered. Earlier, the painting had to be hidden during the Reformation, as attacking Protestants would have defaced if not destroyed it. Nearly 200 years later, the panels were in the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte, who had seized them during his conquests of Europe. They were returned following Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo.
 

Hubert and Jan Van Eyck, “The Ghent Altarpiece (detail from outter panel),” 1432
oil on panel, 15 x 10 ft. (c) Saint Bavo’s Cathedral 2016

 
Fortunately, the altarpiece —11 of its 12 panels — have survived the epic journey relatively unscathed, having finally been reunited, restored, and cleaned. The altarpiece has been the subject of a massive international conservation effort, begun in 2012, which focused exclusively on the exterior panels — which had naturally suffered the most wear. It was recently announced that restorers have finally begun to work on the interior panels, marking an important turning point in this epic journey.
 
To learn more, visit ArtDaily.
 
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“For me, painting is when the harmony of colors on the canvas makes the per capita effect similar to the action of the musical chord…” These words, once spoken by artist Nikita Fedosov, encapsulate his work perfectly. One Virginia gallery is overjoyed to soon present over 60 works by this Russian legend.
 
In 2005, a survey was taken among prominent members of the Russian Realist art community in which they were asked to name the three most talented 20th-century Russian artists. Nikita Fedosov’s name ended up number two on the list, and visitors to Charles City, Virginia’s Lazare Gallery will soon have an extraordinary opportunity to understand why.
 
Known principally for his plein air landscapes, Fedosov is considered by many to be a Russian legend, with many of his contemporaries attesting to his genius. Yury Kugach once declared, “His graduation project already put Fedosov in league with our best artists. He was able to express everything in this painting, immediately and ably. This is a painting of life and beauty. One could never produce such a painting apathetically; every drop of paint in it emanates love.”
 
Over 60 original works by Fedosov will be on view at Lazare Gallery on October 23. To learn more, visit Lazare Gallery.
 
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Sharply rendered with precision and verisimilitude, San Francisco receives a unique look from painter Juan Escauriaza during this magnetic solo exhibition. Where and for how long?

Through October at San Francisco’s CK Contemporary gallery is a wonderful solo exhibition that showcases the creative vision of painter Juan Escauriaza. Featuring tightly cropped views of The City by the Bay, Escauriaza’s pictures are rendered with precision, sharp edges, and vivid color.

Juan Escauriaza, “Patriot,” 2015, acrylic on linen, 51 x 63 3/4 in. (c) CK Contemporary 2016

Although this show in particular focuses on San Francisco, Escauriaza has often turned his artistic lens on the American landscape. CK Contemporary writes, “He visits the US frequently and studies his surroundings, sizing up his chosen milieu for subject matter. Inevitably, he is drawn to those elements of the landscape that many of us pass by without registering a second glance. By way of acrylic brushed on linen with masterful prowess, Escauriaza reminds his viewers of the poetry of place and the beauty of the prosaic.”

To learn more, visit CK Contemporary.

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Houston, Texas, is the only city in the United States where you’ll be able to catch this significant international survey of Edgar Degas, featuring some 200 works by the artist.

On view through January 16 at Houston’s Museum of Fine Arts, “Degas: A New Vision” is the first significant survey of the Impressionist’s work in the United States in nearly 30 years. As the museum correctly suggests, the artist’s reputation has often surrounded his lush imagery of ballet dancers as they practice, dress, and warm up for a performance. However, Degas produced a wealth of imagery with a variety of subject matter, all of which is considered in the exhibition.

“Degas: A New Vision” brings together some 200 works by the artist, showcasing not just his painting, but printmaking, photographic, drawing, and sculptural endeavors as well. Via the museum, “Not since the landmark international retrospective Degas in 1988 has the artist’s career been fully assessed. That exhibition led to a revival of interest in Degas, with dozens of shows focusing on individual subjects of his work—the bathers, the dancers, the jockeys, the portraits—or his influence on other artists. ‘Degas: A New Vision’ benefits from that scholarship, puts Degas back together again, and offers an opportunity to see the artist anew.”

To learn more, visit the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

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Acclaimed artists Ron and Echo Ukrainetz are currently showcasing an compelling visual interpretation of the unique history of Montana during “Double Visions” at the Hockaday Museum of Art.

On display at the Hockaday Museum of Art through November 5, “Double Visions” is an extraordinary look into the early history of one of our country’s most beautiful states. Featuring the works of Ron and Echo Ukrainetz, the exhibition presents the colorful history of Montana through six themes: Lewis and Clark, Hunting and Fishing, Cultural Conflicts, Farming and Ranching, Transportation, and Entertainment.

Via the museum, “Depicting landscapes, historical figures, wildlife, and lifestyles, Ron and Echo tell Montana’s early stories through imagery and wall text. The show features Ron’s incredibly lifelike acrylics on engraved Claybord, a technique called ‘polychromatic engraving’ that is so photo-real that it mimics the depth of field that can be achieved with a camera lens. Ron is also including many vibrantly colored oil paintings to complement his wife Echo’s unique and sought-after batik paintings.”

Echo Ukrainetz, “Joe Black Fox Takes a Break,” 22 1/2 x 20 in. (c) Hockaday Museum of Art 2016

Continuing, “Echo Ukrainetz is a native Montanan and has been interested in art since her early days in school practicing drawing and design. Over the years of trial, error and experimentation, Echo has mastered the difficult practice of manipulating wax and dye to create intricate batik paintings. Batik is an artistic process of alternating applications of wax resist and colorful dyes on high quality cloth. The sequence of dye application, drying, and wax application results in imparting colors in target areas, and is repeated until the entire piece is covered with wax. A single batik can have well over 30 applications of dye and wax. Echo is inspired by portraits, both contemporary and traditional, and her work has been accepted into fine art auctions offered by numerous Montana museums and is represented by galleries throughout the United States.”

To learn more, visit the Hockaday Museum of Art.

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He is one of the country’s most influential figurative painters; collectors and connoisseurs will regret missing out on this extraordinary solo exhibition of recent works by Malcolm T. Liepke.
 
Opening October 22 at the esteemed gallery Arcadia Contemporary is a colorful display of figurative mastery by painter Malcolm T. Liepke. The artist’s first solo show on the West Coast in some 10 years, these new works “explore a contemporary twist on figurative painting, executed in his signature lush style,” the gallery writes.
 

Malcolm T. Liepke, “Balloons & Confetti,” 2016, oil (c) Arcadia Contemporary 2016

 
What is this “Lush,” you ask? You’ll need to see it in person for the full effect. Employing a lighter, cooler palette, “Limbs, garments and faces arrive in striking compositions as a distinctly contemporary atmosphere pervades the works,” the gallery describes. “Stark pastels and bold primaries hang in a unique balance around the artist’s familiar constellation of bodies.”
 
To learn more, visit Arcadia Contemporary.
 
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Since July of 2015, two of the most visited rooms in Florence’s Uffizi Gallery have undergone extensive updates. Two of Sandro Botticelli’s celebrated masterpieces weren’t left out of the party. How?
 
It’s always exciting to hear about old masterpieces being restored and cleaned —technology has advanced to the point that the process preserves as it restores the works’ former glory. Such is the case at the world’s most famous Renaissance museum,  the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Rooms 9 and 15 — two of the most visited rooms in the gallery — recently underwent extensive renovations, and their esteemed occupants were cleaned and freshened up for their new space. And that includes two of Sandro Botticelli’s masterpieces.
 
Now on view with renewed vibrancy, “Spring” and “Birth of Venus” are more beautiful than ever before — and beautifully lit as well. All of the works in the two rooms are now predominantly lit using natural light-wells and ceiling windows, which Director Eike Schmidt suggested would allow visitors to contemplate the paintings more fully. Among the other occupants of the room are seminal works from Pollaiolo, Hugo van der Goes, and Domenico Ghirlandaio.
 
To learn more, visit the Uffizi Gallery.
 
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Embracing the human form in several mediums and concepts, “The Nude Figure” and “The Nude, Mirror of Desire” are co-exhibitions juried from 430 works by nearly 250 artists. Who made the cut?
 
Juried by renowned artists Scott Noel and Paul DuSold, “The Nude Figure” and “The Nude, Mirror of Desire” is a fascinating exploration of the human figure by a range of talented creators. Selected from 242 artists with 430 entries, Noel and DuSold narrowed the field to just 71 accepted artists represented by 86 works of art.
 

Elise Schweitzer, “Parachute, Parsonage,” oil, (c) Wayne Art Center 2016

Chris Smith, “Antigone Enthroned,” cast (c) Wayne Art Center 2016

 
Opened on October 16, the two exhibitions are being held at the Wayne Art Center in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Over $3,000 in awards sponsored by the host were presented on October 16 as well. Elise Schweitzer took home Best in Show honors for her work “Parachute, Parsonage” while Tamie Beldue earned honors for Best Drawing. Chris Smith was awarded Best Sculpture and Patrice Poor took Best Narrative Figure.
 
To learn more, visit the Wayne Art Center.
 
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