Leonardo was born in Vinci, Italy on April 15th, 1452, the illegitimate son of a young notary.

Leonardo grew up in an environment rich with scholarly texts and art, provided by his father, who himself taught Leonardo how to paint, and by his father's family. When he was in his late teens, Leonardo was sent to Florence to be an apprentice in the studio of famous renaissance sculptor Andrea del Verrocchio, where he met with other Renaissance artists Botticelli and Ghirlandaio, and continued honing his skills, which were proving to be greater than his teacher's... Leonardo's first moment in the sun came when Verroccio asked him to help paint an angel in his "Baptism of Christ" piece. Leonardo so impressed his master that Verrochio himself decided he would never paint again. Leonardo continued working with Verrochio for a few years, and then the two parted ways. Leonardo went on to be in the service of the Duke Ludovico Sforza of Milan, where he remained for 16 years. Leonardo didn't only paint for the Duke, but he also designed machinery, weapons, and a fair bit of architecture. Science and art were merged in an unending output of impressive works and studies. Leonardo's designs were so ahead of their time, that they even included plans for various assault vehicles, flying machines, and even a submarine. Duke Sforza died shortly after the completion of one of Leonardo's most famous work, The Last Supper; Leonardo who had now lost his patron, and decided to leave Milan. He eventually returned to Florence after having traveled, lived, and worked for various patrons throughout Italy. Shortly after his return to Florence, he and Michelangelo were commissioned to paint frescos on the walls of the new city hall. While he was working on his mural depicting the battle of Anghiari, which had been commissioned in part by Niccolo Machiavelli, Leonardo also painted his most famous work, the Mona Lisa. A short while later, Leonardo's father passed away, leaving his family to fight over the distribution of his assets, of which none went to Leonardo. It was only later and following the death of his uncle that Leonardo would inherit land and money. Leonardo later went to Rome, and was given living quarters in the Vatican by Pope Leo X, so that he could further explore the arts while working on commissioned pieces for the Church. Leonardo did not create many new paintings during this period, concentrating on his drawings instead; it was quite difficult for Leonardo to pursue his studies of scientific subjects and anatomy while in the employ of the Pope, as the Church frowned upon the dissection of human cadavers. But Leonardo who had had many patrons ranging from Duke Sforza, to the evil Cesare Borgia, was one who had no trouble adapting to his surroundings, and he did create several drawings including The Deluge, in which he portrayed the cataclysmic biblical event.

For the incoronation of King Francis kings Leonardo had designed a mechanical lion automaton that actually
walked. Soon thereafter, Leonardo would become "first painter and engineer, and architect of the king." for his final employer, Francis the 1st. in France. He was given his own private residence and studio, in which he taught, and continued work on his studies, drawings, and sketches. At this point, Leonardo was quite aged, and even though he was left-handed, paralysis of his right hand made it very difficult for him to work. On the 2nd day of may, 1519, at the age of 67, Leonardo da Vinci died, with King Francis at his side. Painter, sculptor, draughtsman, architect, engineer, anatomist, physicist, astronomer, observer of life in all its forms, and most of all, great thinker. Leonardo is one of our history's most admired geniuses, centuries ahead of his time, one of the first artists to seamlessly merge science and art. Although he only completed 6 major paintings in his entire career, they include some of the most important images ever known.

"As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death." Leonardo da Vinci

Pablo Picasso
1881-1973

Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga, Spain, to artist and teacher Jose Ruiz Blasco, and his wife Maria Picasso.

A decade later, young Pablo Picasso learned how to paint from his father, who had been appointed teacher at the Da Guarda art school in La Coruna. Later, when his father was appointed teacher to the La Lonja academy in Barcelona, and just a year later, Pablo was admitted to the drawing class of the academy after having shown tremendous aptitude. Pablo Picasso the n took a trip to France where he discovered the work of master artist Toulouse Lautrec, perhaps it was Lautrec's fascination with the female form, and with street walkers in particular that influenced Picasso to paint Les Demoiselles d'Avignon", the piece which brought on his first big break. 1900 to 1907, saw Picasso's Blue and Rose Periods, and it was within this timeframe that the artist was fascinated by the dregs of society, he would focus on painting images of prostitutes, the poor, the unfortunate, and the street urchins. He was working very hard during this time, illustrating magazines, and having his work shown in galleris such as Berthe Weill's, in Paris. It was also then that he met Guillaume Apollinaire, Leo and Gertrude Stein, and Henri Matisse, who was to become Picasso's long time friend. Shortly after that, Picasso started the Cubist movement with fellow artists Georges Braque and Joan Miro. Cubism is best defined as the exact reproduction of an image as seen from different angles simultaneously. What made Picassos' cubist paintings is the amount of human emotion he would maintain within the multi-faceted figures. Pablo Picasso had many women in his life, from Fernande Olivier, and Eva Gouel, to Olga Koklova, a Russian ballerina whom he had met around the same time he met composer Igor Stravinsky. Olga gave birth to a son, Paul; but Pablo left her shortly afterwards, and fathered a daughter, Maia, with Marie-Threse Walter, who had also been his model, and was now his muse and mistress. Marie-Thrse was also the mother of his son Claude, and his daughter Paloma. Other Important women in Picasso's life include Dora Maar, Francoise Gilot, Jacqueline Rocque, whom he married at the age of 80. One of Picasso's least endearing traits was his treatment of women. Perhaps the result of a life-long search for a soul mate, and his disillusionment at never being able to find a true friend. Picasso himself was quoted as saying: "I have had no true friends, only lovers."

During his exploration of Cubism, he created one of his most famous paintings, that of La Guernica. Like
Salvador Dali's Soft Construction with Boiled Beans: Premonition of Civil War, La Guernica was a reaction to the horrors of the Spanish Civil War. There are several hidden images and symbols in the painting, from the mythological Minotaur to a hidden Devil head, all painted in drab earth tones.

Picasso did not only paint, he also transposed the concepts of Cubism to metal sculptures, and did set design for one of Igor Stravinsky's premiere performances, and sets and costumes for one of Eric Satie's. He also did sets for Jean Cocteau's play Antigone. He even wrote plays himself. Pablo Picasso died at the age of 92, on April 8th, 1973 in his house of Notre-Dame de Vie. Pablo Picasso was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, his maverick attitude, although sometimes hindered by his violent temperament made him succeed at becoming one of the most valued and sought after, yet misunderstood artists. "Art is a lie that helps us to realize the truth." Pablo Picasso

Claude Monet
1840-1926

Claude Monet was born on November 14, 1840, in Paris. A few years later, his family moved the the Normandie
harbor town of Le Havre, where his father ran a marine trade supply store. Monet spent most of his youth in Le Havre, drawing caricatures of the locals, a talent which got him into trouble at school. Claude was a rebel, and he frequently disobeyed the rules. Regardless of her son's insubordination in school, Louise Monet was very encouraging of her son's budding talent. By the age of fifteen, Claude was selling caricatures for as much as 20 francs, which did not please his parents, who were well off from their prosperous business. Nonetheless, Monet continued drawing caricatures, and wasn't really interested in painting until he met Eugne Boudin, the man who would become his mentor. Boudin encouraged the young Monet to go outside and paint nature scenes, playing an important role in the young artist's development. Louise Monet died shortly following her son's very first showing, but his Aunt, Marie-Jeanne, soon took over the care and support of the gifted teen, who was showing signs of true talent as a painter. Claude went on to study at the prestigious cole des Beaux-Arts, but being a true rebel as always, rejected the schools traditional attitudes towards art, and left to study at the Acadmie Suisse, where he further refined his skills and met with fellow artists Camille Pissarro and Gustave Courbet. Following a short stint in the military, Monet returned to Le Havre where he met with another artist, Johan Barthold Jongkind, who also helps shape his style. Shortly thereafter, Monet joins the studio of Swiss painter Charles Gleyre in Paris, where he meets with other gifted artists such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and and Frdric Bazille, giving birth to the impressionist movement. It was clear even then that Monet was quickly becoming the leader of this group, instigating debates, and nurturing a rebellious attitude from his peers towards the artistic establishment. But it wasn't until a year later, when Monet discovered the work of Edouard Manet at Martinet's where his work was being shown, that he would find true inspiration. Claude Monet then paints "en plein air", in the forest of Fontainebleau, with his friend Bazille.

Inspired by Manet, Claude Monet worked on large canvases, and by then, he had become such a perfectionist that he refused to paint unless the light of the sun reflected exactly the way he wanted it. In one instance even had a trench dug, and a large canvas mounted on ropes and pulleys, so her could work without having to lose his line of sight. Although Monet mostly painted nature scenes, he sometimes included human figures in his paintings. One day, he had his friend Bazille, and a lady named Camille Doncieux pose for a painting of a Picnic (Le Djeuner sur l'Herbe); little did he know she would one day become his lover, his wife, and the subject of many of his works.

Monet spent some time at Honfleur, visiting his friend Boudin, and while at the St-Simon Farm, he met his first
patron, Mr. Gaudibert. Monet's works were then submitted for the first time to the official Salon. "La Femme En Vert" is shown to the great acclaim of art aficionados and critics alike, who believed it to be a new work from Manet, who on the other hand, did not share the same appreciation for the painting, after discovering the masterpiece he was being congratulated for, was that of Claude Monet.

later on, Monet and Manet became friends, and the two would get together to discuss art with their close circle of
friends which included luminaries such as Paul Czanne , and writer mile Zola, at the Caf des Batignolles. By the time Monet's first son, jean was born, Monet was beginning to have trouble with his eyesight; this was only one of many misfortunes that would plague him and Camille; his family had disowned him for his association with Camille, and her having being pregnant out of wedlock; None of the paintings he had shown at the International Maritime Exhibition at Le Havre were sold, and his debts were such that creditors had seized his canvasses as collateral. At some point, he was so depressed he even attempted to commit suicide. But Claude and Camille's friends were always close at hand, and helped the couple thru their hardships; Mr. Gaudibert commissioned a full-length, life-size portrait of Mrs. Gaudibert from Monet. This commission helped Claude and Camille survive through hard times, and they soon got back on their feet as Monet's reputation as a gifted artist gained momentum. Shortly after they got married, Claude and Camille were forced to move to London, England to escape the rigors of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. During his sojourn, Monet painted several canvasses, and had several successful showings. He then returned to France and settled with his family in the village of Argenteuil, where he continued to work and sell paintings. In 1874, Monet organized the very first Impressionism Show, which featured the works of greats such as Czanne, Renoir, Pissaro, Sisley, and his mentor Eugne Boudin, just a few of over thirty artists showing at Nadars Studio. At first, the critics weren't too kind towards the artists' work, which went against the status quo of the art world, but subsequent shows, and continuing public success soon had them change their verdict to a favorable one. Following the sale of some of his works to Edouard Manet, Claude and his family, which now included a second son, Michel, moved to Vtheuil, sharing a residence with Ernest, and Alice Hosched, who had in the past purchased a large collection of Monet's works. In a cruel twist of fate, the Hosched family was bankrupt, and had to sell their collection of paintings for next to nothing. A year later, Camille died, and Alice Hosched took over the care of the Monet children. Three years later, Claude Monet moved to Giverny, where he would remain until his death, 43 years later. While at Giverny, Claude Monet took up gardening; his famous paintings of waterlilies are a good example of the symbiotic relationship that existed between between Monet and nature. Monet was a true master, a true genius who's understanding of light and color helped him create some of the most important impressionist paintings in the history of art.

Vincent van Gogh

1853-1890

Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30th, 1853 to Theodorus van Gogh, and Anna Cornelia Carbentus, in
Zundert, a village in Brabant, in the Netherlands. It is important to note that Vincent's brother Theo was born four years later, as he would become a prominent figure in Vincent's life. Vincent's first exposure to the art world was when he worked at the Hague gallery of the French art dealers Goupil & Co., which had been established by his uncle Vincent. His brother Theo later worked for the same company. After working for the art dealers, Vincent took the job of assistant teacher, and preacher in a boarding school in England, but this was short lived and his obsession with evangelical Christianity made him want to become a clergyman like his father, so he tried to enroll in a theology school, but was refused admittance. Vincent later enrolled in a missionary school in Belgium, determined to help those in need, and preach to the poor. He preached and lived amongst the miners in southern Belgium, but his fanatical attitude, and pious lifestyle were such that the church did not renew his appointment fro the following year. After much though and meditation on the subject, Vincent decided to become an artist, feeling this was his last recourse at doing God's work. Penniless, Vincent worked independently as an artist in Brussels, while his brother Theo supported him by sending him money. van Gogh later returned to the Hague to take painting lessons from his cousin Anton Mauve. His talents soon emerged, and in very little time, he had developed his own unique style. van Gogh's bold use of color, and composition were first made evident in a series of paintings of the Hague, commissioned by his uncle Cornelis. van Gogh's fascination with the poor, and the working class were the subject of many of his early works, the first, a series he painted while Drenthe, in the northeastern Netherlands, followed by a series of 40 portraits he painted. Theo, who had been helping his brother survive lean months, was also helping him sell his paintings, albeit at a turtle's pace; this distressed Vincent, and led to conflicts between the two of them. Later, shortly after his father's passing, van Gogh finished his first masterwork, The Potato Eaters; he later left the Netherlands, and returned to Belgium, settling in the town of Antwerp. This was a wise move for van Gogh, who was able to find models, supplies, and ideas for his work. He enrolled at the cole des Beaux-Arts in Antwerp, but quit after two months due to the stifling atmosphere of the school, and their antiquated concepts. van Gogh had finally become the artist's artist. He later moved in with his brother in Montmartre, France, where he discovered the works of Monet and other French Impressionists, and met with Gauguin, and Henri deToulouse Lautrec, this would be the turning point in van Gogh's career, as he enrolled in the highly praised Fernand Cormon workshop where he learned to use light and color in novel ways.

Vincent's style was greatly updated during his sojourn in Paris, where the influence of his contemporaries had an
effect on his brush work, and subject matter; but he would also experiment with pointillism, a stilt in which thousands of primary colored dots are painted closely together to form the illusion of secondary colors. While he wanted to continue painting portraits, van Gogh could not afford the use of models, so he purchased a mirror and went to work on a series of self-portraits.

When van Gogh and Gauguin both left Paris in 1888, seeking new sources of inspiration, Gauguin moved to Brittany, while van Gogh moved to Arles, in the south of France, seeking a brighter landscape. It was there that he established the Studio of the South, and invited Gauguin to join him, there, it was at that time that the two exchanged self-portraits; each would paint a self portrait to have it "evaluated" by the other, in a friendly competition of sorts. While waiting for Gauguin, Vincent paints a series of still life sunflowers to decorate his friend's future room, which would later become the images for which he would be best remembered. Things were going well for Vincent until he became ill with a debilitating type of epilepsy that would manifest itself in a series of psychotic attacks, and left him in a deluded state. He would shortly thereafter institutionalize himself after having cut off part of his left ear. While in the St-Remy institution, van Gogh painted numerous works such as Starry Night, and when he was well enough, he would get to work outside the walls of the asylum, sitting in the field. But he would never recover, and at some point he even tried to commit suicide by swallowing paint. Later, feeling like a failure, van Gogh shot himself in the chest. He died on July 29th, 1890, two days after from the self-inflicted wound. He was 37. His brother Theo died 6 months later. "As a suffering creature, I cannot do without something greater than I -- something that is my life -- the power to create." Vincent Van Gogh