June 08

Born in Venice in 1671, Albinoni became a prominent violinist at the Venetian court. He published numerous collections of instrumental concertos, sonatas, and operas. His music is characterized by elegant melodies and rich harmonic structures. The posthumously attributed "Adagio in G minor" remains one of his most celebrated works. Albinoni’s contributions helped shape the development of Baroque music in Europe.

Born in 1776, Rickman transitioned from coachmaking to self-taught architecture. In 1817, he published ‘An Attempt to Discriminate Gothic Architecture,’ defining Early English, Decorated, and Perpendicular styles. He designed numerous churches and public buildings in the Gothic style across England. His classification system provided a framework for architectural history and restoration. He died in 1841, leaving a profound impact on the study and practice of Gothic architecture.

Robert Alexander Schumann was born in 1810 in Zwickau, Saxony and initially studied law before dedicating himself to music. He founded the New Journal of Music in 1834, shaping the course of musical criticism with passionate and insightful essays. His key compositions include the piano cycles "Carnaval" and "Kinderszenen", the symphonic work "Rhenish", and the song cycle "Dichterliebe". His marriage to virtuoso pianist Clara Wieck fostered one of the most celebrated creative partnerships in music history. Despite lifelong struggles with mental health, his inventive harmonies and lyrical melodies have had a lasting impact on classical music. Schumann died in 1856 at a sanatorium in Endenich, leaving behind a profound Romantic legacy.

John Everett Millais was born in 1829 in Southampton, England. A child prodigy, he enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools at age eleven. In 1848, he co-founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood to reform art by rejecting classical influences and emphasizing detailed realism. His early masterpiece 'Ophelia' (1851-52) gained international acclaim for its striking portrayal and meticulous technique. Later in his career, Millais focused on portraiture and scenes of everyday life, serving as President of the Royal Academy in 1896. His innovative approach and commercial success bridged artistic movements and influenced future generations. Millais died in 1896, remembered as one of Victorian Britain's greatest painters.

George Charles Haité was born in 1855 in London, England. He studied at Heatherley's School of Fine Art and the Royal Academy, emerging as a talented watercolorist and illustrator. In 1898, Haité co-founded the London Sketch Club to create a collaborative space for British artists and illustrators. He contributed designs and illustrations to magazines and books, blending traditional techniques with early Art Nouveau influences. His landscape and genre paintings were regularly exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists. Haité also designed the masthead for the Daily Graphic, setting standards for journalistic graphics. He served as the inaugural President of the Society of Graphic Art, shaping the professional illustration community. Haité died in 1924, remembered for his leadership in Victorian-era art and design.

Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) was a visionary American architect who revolutionized modern architecture with his philosophy of organic design. He believed in harmonizing structures with their environments, a principle evident in his landmark projects such as the Price Tower in Oklahoma and the house Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. Over a career spanning seven decades, he designed more than 1,000 structures, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. Wright founded the Prairie School movement and influenced generations of architects worldwide. His innovative use of open floor plans and integration of nature set new standards in architectural theory. Despite controversies, his legacy endures through his built works and published writings.

Robert Robinson Taylor (1868–1942) was an American architect and educator celebrated as the first African-American to graduate with an architecture degree and become a licensed architect in the United States. After earning his degree at MIT, he joined the faculty at the Tuskegee Institute, where he designed key campus buildings and instructed students for decades. His architectural works blended functionality with classical design, contributing to the growth of architectural education for African-Americans. Taylor's career broke racial barriers in a segregated society and inspired future generations of Black architects. His legacy lives on through his enduring buildings and impact on architectural training at historically black institutions.

Jan Frans De Boever (1872–1949) was a Belgian painter and illustrator associated with the Symbolist movement. His works often featured dreamlike and fantastical scenes with rich colors and detailed ornamentation. De Boever provided illustrations for literary publications and contributed to periodicals of his era. His unique artistic voice combined folklore themes with modern aesthetic sensibilities. Although less widely known internationally, his paintings and prints remain valued for their emotional depth and technical precision. His influence can be seen in subsequent Belgian art and illustration traditions.

Born on June 8, 1894, in Prague, Erwin Schulhoff studied at the Vienna Conservatory and emerged as a leading figure in the European avant-garde. His works combined classical forms with jazz rhythms, reflecting the cultural ferment of the 1920s. He gained acclaim for pieces such as the 'Hot Sonata' and his jazz-inspired piano compositions. As a committed leftist, he joined the Communist Party and used his music to express social ideals. After the Nazi occupation, his compositions were banned as 'degenerate music.' Arrested in 1941, he was deported to the Wülzburg concentration camp, where he died in 1942. Only decades later did his innovative works receive renewed appreciation from the classical music world.

Fernand Fonssagrives was born on June 8, 1910, in Paris, France. He rose to prominence in the 1930s as a fashion photographer featured in magazines like Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. Fonssagrives's elegant compositions and skillful use of light helped define mid-century fashion imagery. Later in his career, he turned to sculpture and painting, exploring abstract forms inspired by his experiences in both Europe and the United States. His multidisciplinary approach bridged photography and fine arts, leaving a distinct impression on each field. Fonssagrives's work continues to be celebrated for its technical mastery and aesthetic innovation until his death in 2003.

Born in Buenos Aires in 1911, Edmundo Rivero became one of the defining voices of tango music. His career began in the 1930s when he joined several leading orchestras, and his distinctive bass-baritone stood out in every performance. He co-founded the Municipal Popular Music Orchestra of Buenos Aires and recorded dozens of classic tangos over five decades. Rivero's collaborations with top composers and musicians helped shape the evolution of the genre. Known for his emotional depth and vocal precision, he mentored younger artists and remained active in music until shortly before his death in 1986. His legacy endures in the rich recordings that continue to inspire tango enthusiasts worldwide.