January 11

Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449–1494) was a leading Florentine artist of the Early Renaissance. He is celebrated for fresco cycles in the Sassetti Chapel and the Tornabuoni Chapel at Santa Maria Novella. Ghirlandaio’s realistic portraits and attention to everyday detail shaped the era’s artistic developments. As a master, he trained future luminaries including Michelangelo Buonarroti. His workshop produced altarpieces, panel paintings, and decorative schemes across Tuscany. Ghirlandaio’s blend of classical form and vivid storytelling secured his reputation for generations.

Gaudenzio Ferrari was a leading Italian painter and sculptor during the High Renaissance. He worked primarily in the Piedmont and Lombardy regions of northern Italy. His frescoes at the Sacro Monte di Varallo church complex are celebrated for their vivid colors and narrative detail. Ferrari's wood and marble sculptures combined classical forms with emotional realism. He trained under established masters before developing a distinctive style that blended Ferrarese and Lombard influences. His work had a lasting impact on religious art in 16th-century northern Italy.

Born in 1583, Juan Martínez de Jáuregui y Aguilar was a prominent Spanish poet and painter of the early 17th century. He gained recognition for his refined literary style and classical poetry influenced by Renaissance humanism. Jáuregui also practiced painting, creating works that reflected the artistic currents of the Spanish Golden Age. He served at the court in Madrid and engaged in literary debates with his contemporaries. His poetry collections were admired for their elegance, wit, and mastery of form. Through both his writings and paintings, he contributed to the cultural richness of Baroque Spain.

Born in 1695, Louis-François Roubiliac was a French-born sculptor who made his career in England. He became one of the leading sculptors of his time, celebrated for his dramatic Baroque style. Roubiliac produced numerous public monuments, including statues in Westminster Abbey. His portrait busts captured the character and likeness of his subjects with lifelike detail. Working for royal and noble patrons, he secured prestigious commissions throughout Britain. Roubiliac's innovative approach to form and composition influenced British sculpture well into the Classical era.

Born in 1717 near Llandovery, Williams dedicated his life to ministry in Wales, writing hundreds of hymns that remain central to Welsh worship. His best-known hymn, 'Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah,' has been translated into multiple languages and is sung worldwide. Williams was also a prolific poet and advocate for the Welsh language, and his literary contributions helped spark a religious revival and solidify Welsh cultural identity.

Born in 1749 near Naples, Cimarosa studied music at the Conservatorio di Santa Maria di Loreto and composed over 80 operas. His works are known for their elegant melodies and comedic flair, with 'Il matrimonio segreto,' premiered in Vienna in 1792, remaining his most famous piece. Cimarosa also taught composition and influenced a generation of Italian musicians. His political sympathies with the Neapolitan Republic led to exile, and he died in Venice in 1801, leaving a legacy that bridged Baroque traditions and the emerging Classical style.

Born in Gothenburg in 1841, Elfrida Andrée became the first female cathedral organist in Scandinavia. She studied piano and organ at the Stockholm Conservatory and emerged as a gifted composer. Her works include orchestral overtures, choral pieces, and chamber music that blend Romantic tradition with Nordic influences. In 1897 she broke new ground by conducting the Gothenburg Concert Society, becoming one of the first women to lead a major orchestra. A passionate advocate for women’s rights, she campaigned for female musicians throughout her career. Andrée continued composing, teaching, and performing until her death in 1929.

Eva Tanguay was born in 1879 in Vermont and became one of North America’s most celebrated vaudeville performers. Renowned for her flamboyant costumes and exuberant stage presence, she earned the nickname 'The Queen of Vaudeville'. Her signature song 'I Don’t Care' captured her carefree and daring persona, making her a cultural icon of the early 20th century. Tanguay performed in theaters across the United States and Europe, drawing record crowds. She also appeared in silent films, expanding her reach beyond the stage. Her bold style influenced the evolution of popular entertainment and paved the way for future female performers.

Aureliano Pertile was born in 1885 in Montagnana and rose to fame as one of Italy’s leading operatic tenors. He made his La Scala debut in 1918 and soon became renowned for his interpretations of Verdi and Puccini roles. Pertile’s warm yet powerful voice captivated audiences in Milan, New York, and Rome. In addition to his stage career, he taught singing at the Milan Conservatory, shaping the next generation of opera stars. His artistry is preserved on numerous early recordings, showcasing his expressive phrasing. Pertile continued performing until the late 1940s, leaving an indelible mark on the operatic world.

Born Joseph Straus in Vienna in 1870, Oscar Straus emerged as a leading composer of operettas during the early 20th century. He achieved international fame with works like 'Ein Walzertraum' and 'Der tapfere Soldat'. Straus was also a pioneer in composing scores for silent and early sound films. His music blended traditional Viennese waltz rhythms with rich orchestration and melodic invention. Despite the upheavals of two world wars, he continued to compose and conduct performances of his works. Straus' contributions helped shape the development of operetta and cinema music in Europe.

Born in Berlin in 1883, Elena Gerhardt trained at the Berlin Royal Academy of Music. She gained recognition for her expressive interpretations of German art songs by composers such as Schubert and Brahms. Gerhardt toured extensively across Europe and the United States, bringing lieder to new audiences. In addition to her singing career, she appeared on stage in several theatrical productions. Her performances were praised for their emotional depth and technical precision. After retiring from concert life, she taught voice to a new generation of singers. Gerhardt passed away in 1961, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of art song.

Born in Borgonovo, Switzerland in 1901, Alberto Giacometti studied art in Geneva and at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. He became associated with the Surrealist movement in the 1930s, creating haunting, dreamlike sculptures. After World War II, Giacometti developed his signature style of attenuated, elongated figures that explored the human condition. His iconic works, such as 'Walking Man' and 'The Nose', became landmarks of 20th-century modern art. Giacometti also produced paintings and drawings characterized by existential themes. He held major exhibitions across Europe and the United States during his lifetime. He passed away in 1966 in Chur, leaving a profound influence on modern sculpture.