The Electric Man or Frank Reade, Jr, in Australia
Jean Louis Forain - “At the Masked Ball” 1885
![decorativeindulgences:
ca. 1885, [Industrial series novelty mechanical clock barometer in the form of a steam engine], A. Mucoli & Figlio of Palermo.
via Heritage Auctions](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcxvrjftcv1rszr5to1_500.jpg)
Travesuras de la Modelo (Model Making Mischief), circa 1885. Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta (Spanish, Realism, 1841-1920). Oil on canvas. Museo Carmen Thyssen.
Madrazo was famous during his lifetime and painted portraits for wealthy French, American, British, and Argentine patrons. He was also known for his skillful and often flirtatious genre scenes, such as this work.In 1878, Madrazo won the first-class medal at the Exposition Universelle in Paris.
James Tissot, Women of Paris: The Circus Lover, 1885
From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston:
Like the Impressionists, particularly his friend Edgar Degas, Tissot chose his subjects from modern urban life. His precise, detailed, and anecdotal style, however, was more closely related to conservative academic painting. This work belongs to a series called La Femme à Paris (Women of Paris), eighteen large paintings that depict women of different social classes encountered as if by chance at various occupations and amusements. Here, the woman engages the viewer as a participant in the action by her direct glance out of the picture. The event is a “high-life circus,” in which the amateur performers were members of the aristocracy.
That poor clown is all like, “Lady, why aren’t you looking?”
(via sweet-gherkins)
Ivan the Terrible and his Son Ivan, 1885
Ugh, I love this painting so much.
Just some background stuff, Ivan the Terrible was the Tsar of Russia for most of the 16th Century. In I think 1581, he caught his daughter-in-law wearing ‘immodest clothing in front of everyone’ and struck her. She was apparently pregnant and she may or may not have had a miscarriage because of it.
Ivan’s son and the girl’s husband, also named Ivan after his father, hears about it and gets into a really heated argument with his father that ends with Ivan the Terrible taking a swing at his son with his pointed staff. It’s said that he immediately fell down and kissed his son’s face, pressing his hands against his left temple to try to stop the bleeding. He famously screamed “May I be damned! I’ve killed my son! I’ve killed my son!” His son briefly regained consciousness and his last words were “I die as a devoted son and most humble servant.”
I love all the details. I love the pointed staff lying on the ground and the signs of a fight with the tossed over chair, disturbed carpet, and the door wide open. I love the single tear on Ivan’s face and their position on the floor. This is a really gorgeous but raw depiction of one of the darkest moments in an incredible man’s life. I wish there were more historical paintings like this.I’ve yet to see any other image depict the look of horrific realization and regret as well as this painting does. It really is just stunning.
ahhh we talked about this painting in Euro. So horrifying. So much emotion.
Ilya Repin — Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16th, 1581 (1885)
(via pictishking)
