Inspirations Behind Simon Holt: Nigredo The German painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefer (b. 1945) creates his art around the themes of German history and the Holocaust. Many of his works incorporate multiple material types. The catalogue for his work Nigredo

Helen Grime: 3 Whistler Miniatures Called a ‘millionaire Bohemienne’ by a Boston reporter, the wealthy Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840– 1924) founded a museum that can be seen as the ultimate goal of any 19th-century traveller. After the death of her

Inspirations Behind John Luther Adams: Among Red Mountains At the Seattle Tacoma Airport (Sea-Tac), there’s an art collection that cannot help but catch your eye. The Port of Seattle is in charge of the art collection, which began in 1968;

Bruno Battisti D’Amario: 4 Impressioni Italian composer Bruno Battisti D’Amario (b. 1937) did his musical training at the Conservatorio Musicale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, before working with Ennio Morricone on his film soundtracks. He was lead guitarist on both

Inspirations Behind Angelo Gilardino’s 2 Ritratti italiani Two Italian paintings, created less than a decade apart, were the inspiration for guitarist Angelo Gilardino’s Due ritratti italiani. Written in 2013, the work takes a painting by Giorgione and one by Titian

Inspirations Behind Claude Debussy’s Nocturnes Called by one critic ‘America’s first great master of the night’, James McNeill Whistler (1834–1903) started his series of night views with paintings of the River Thames around 1870. He used the word ‘nocturne’ to

Inspirations Behind Maurice Delage’s Les demoiselles d’Avignon Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) shocked the art world with his 1907 painting, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Some of its shock value may be realized by its original title: The Brothel of Avignon. Another part of

Carl Vollrath: Pollock’s Pictures As a painter, Jackson Pollock (1912–1956) broke all the rules. He pushed abstract expressionism to dizzying heights. Enjoying both fame and notoriety during his lifetime, his works continue to challenge us to see how he did,