March 13

Georges de La Tour was born around 1593 in Vic-sur-Seille, France, though exact details are uncertain. He became renowned for his nocturnal scenes illuminated by a single light source, often a candle. De La Tour's works blend religious themes with intimate, everyday settings, creating a profound sense of stillness. He joined the Guild of Saint John in Lunéville and later served as town painter and architect in Lunéville. Although admired in his lifetime, his art was largely forgotten until rediscovered in the 20th century. Key works include The Penitent Magdalen and The Fortune Teller, exemplifying his chiaroscuro technique. De La Tour died in 1652, leaving a legacy that continues to influence artists and scholars today.

Michel Blavet was born in Besançon in 1700 and became one of France's foremost flautists. He achieved fame for his refined playing, combining technical skill with expressive musicality. Blavet served in the royal chapel of King Louis XV and later became principal flautist of the Paris Opera. His surviving compositions include sonatas, concertos, and duets for the flute and continuo. He was admired by contemporaries such as Jean-Philippe Rameau for his contributions to French music. Blavet's works remain staples of the Baroque flute repertoire, valued for their clarity and charm. He died in Paris in 1768, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneer of French flute performance.

Born in 1781 near Neuruppin, Schinkel studied architecture and painting, rising to become one of Prussia’s foremost artists. His architectural works include the Altes Museum, Neue Wache, and the Konzerthaus in Berlin, blending classical forms with modern functionality. As a painter, he produced Romantic landscapes and stage designs that influenced European art. Appointed royal building inspector in 1815, he guided city planning and contributed to Berlin’s cultural renaissance. Schinkel’s fusion of art and architecture helped shape 19th-century aesthetics and remains admired worldwide.

Born in 1825 in Christiania (now Oslo), Gude studied at the Düsseldorf Academy, where he became a leading figure of the Düsseldorf school of painting. His works, such as 'The Bridal Procession on the Hardangerfjord,' captured the sublime beauty of Scandinavian landscapes with meticulous detail and atmospheric light. Appointed professor at the Karlsruhe Academy in 1854, he influenced a generation of landscape artists. Later, he taught at the Berlin Academy, merging Norwegian naturalism with German Romanticism. Gude’s paintings played a key role in defining Norway’s national identity in art. He died in 1903, leaving a legacy as one of the foremost Nordic landscape painters.

Born in Windischgrätz (modern Slavče, Slovenia), Wolf studied at the Vienna Conservatory and was deeply influenced by Wagner. He composed over 300 Lieder, setting poetry by Mörike, Eichendorff, and Goethe with vivid chromaticism. His small output of orchestral and chamber works was overshadowed by his groundbreaking songs. Wolf's music captured nuanced emotional states, pioneering a more personal style of song composition. Battling mental illness in his later years, he produced fewer works but left a lasting imprint on art song. He died in Vienna in 1903, remembered as one of the greatest Lieder composers.

Born in Torzhok, Russia, Jawlensky served in the Imperial Russian Army before studying art in Munich. He co-founded the Neue Künstlervereinigung München and was a key figure in German Expressionism. Jawlensky's work is noted for its bold colors, simplified forms, and spiritual intensity. His 'Mystic Heads' series explored color as a means of emotional and religious expression. Evading persecution, he continued to paint in Switzerland after World War I. Jawlensky's legacy endures in modern art museums, showcasing his contributions to abstraction.

Born in Philadelphia, Glackens began his career as an illustrator for leading magazines in New York City. He joined the group known as the Eight, later called the Ashcan School, championing realistic urban scenes. Glackens' works celebrated everyday life, from crowded streets to leisure activities in parks. He experimented with a bright palette and loose brushwork, diverging from strict realism. After 1910, he focused on portraiture and landscapes, exhibiting widely and gaining critical acclaim. Glackens remained an influential figure in American art until his death in 1938 in New York.

Born in Florence, Toselli studied at the Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini, showing early talent on the piano. He rose to fame as a composer of sentimental salon music, with his 1910 piece 'Serenata' becoming an international hit. Toselli toured Europe and North Africa as a concert pianist, charming audiences with his lyrical style. He also composed operettas, piano works, and songs, blending melodic grace with classical forms. His personal life drew attention when he married and later divorced Archduchess Louise of Austria. Toselli's career was cut short by illness, and he died in London in 1926.

Fritz Busch was a distinguished German conductor celebrated for his interpretations of Mozart and Wagner operas. Born in 1890, he became music director at the Dresden State Opera in his twenties, earning international acclaim. Busch championed modern works and collaborated with leading composers, shaping operatic performance in the early 20th century. Forced into exile during the Nazi era, he continued his career in Europe and the Americas, including at Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera. Known for his precise technique and spirited leadership, Busch influenced generations of conductors. He passed away in 1951, remembered as one of the great maestros of his time.

Pancho Vladigerov was a Bulgarian pianist and composer who played a pivotal role in shaping Bulgarian classical music. Born in 1899, he studied in Berlin and Vienna, blending Western techniques with Bulgarian folk melodies in his compositions. Vladigerov’s works include orchestral suites, piano concertos, and chamber music praised for their rhythmic vitality and lyrical charm. He served as a professor at the National Academy of Music in Sofia, influencing generations of Bulgarian musicians. His most famous piece, the 'Bulgarian Rhapsody,' remains a staple of piano repertoire. Vladigerov died in 1978, leaving an enduring legacy as a national musical icon.

Andrée Bosquet was a Belgian painter known for her lyrical still lifes and portraits. Born in 1900, she emerged as part of the Belgian avant-garde in the interwar period, exhibiting alongside leading modernists. Bosquet’s work is characterized by delicate brushwork, subtle color harmonies, and a serene sensibility. She drew inspiration from everyday subjects, transforming simple scenes into poetic expressions. Bosquet participated in numerous exhibitions across Europe, gaining acclaim for her unique artistic voice. She died in 1980, remembered as a significant figure in 20th-century Belgian art.

Hans Bellmer was a German-born artist who gained recognition in France for his enigmatic surrealist works. Born in 1902 in Kattowitz, he moved to Paris in the late 1920s and created his famous doll series challenging conventional notions of form and identity. His art was condemned as 'degenerate' by the Nazi regime, prompting him to remain in France throughout World War II. Bellmer explored themes of desire, eroticism, and the uncanny, blending sculpture and photography in innovative ways. He exhibited across Europe and North America and published essays on art theory. Bellmer’s boundary-pushing work influenced later generations of surrealist and avant-garde artists. He died in Paris in 1975.