Yesterday marked the 109th anniversary of the death of Sir Frederick William Burton (1816-1900). The Irish painter worked almost exclusively in watercolors and chalks, but his works, such as "Meeting on the Turret Stairs" and "The Child Miranda," sometimes look as though they were done in oils. 1. At the young age of 21, Frederick Burton exhibited three portraits at the Royal Hibernian Academy and was subsequently elected an associate of the group. Just two years later, at age... READ ON

At the request of reader Gillian, today's post features Lois Mailou Jones (1905-1998). The first African American to be given a solo show at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (in 1973), Jones had a fruitful career that lasted into her 90s. 1. "If I set out to do something, I'm going to do it. I discipline myself." Lois Jones inherited her sense of discipline from her father, who attended Suffolk Law School at night for nine years, becoming the first black graduate of the school.... READ ON

Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of the death of Nadya Rusheva (1952-1969). The Mongolian-born Russian illustrator died just a month past her 17th birthday, yet she managed to produce at least 10,000 drawings in her short life. While Rusheva is not well-known in the U.S. (her Wikipedia entry is just two sentences), she has a devout following in Russia. 1. Like most children, Nadya Rusheva began drawing around the age of 5. It wasn't until she was 7, though, that her family began to take her... READ ON

89 years ago today, Theodor Philipsen (1840-1920) passed away. The Danish painter is considered one of the only Danish impressionists of his time. While not much information is available about Philipsen, I've gathered up what I could find: 1. Little is known about Theodor Philipsen's family, but it is known that he had a twin brother, Sophus, who became a ship captain. Sophus' wife was the cousin of Mette Gauguin, Paul Gauguin's Danish wife. 2. Perhaps through his familial... READ ON