This month’s featured artist is American portrait painter, Cecilia Beaux. Her work has a similar quality to that of John Singer Sargent. Remarkable realism with full, luscious strokes.
In Mother and Daughter Cecilia Beaux, look at those skin tones and the glowing dash of yellow.
Cecilia Beaux, Mother and Daughter, 1898
In Ernesta, look at the powerful highlights and use of purple in the shadows. This is a great example of adding some kind of interest to the shadows, rather than defaulting to blacks and browns.
Cecilia Beaux, Ernesta, 1894
Here’s a gallery of her other work:
Below are some links to learn more about her life and work:
What wonderful portraits. I know how hard good portraits are to do. Cecilia Beau has captured personalities so well. She brought those people to life. I like the use of light and the costumes. I could look at those paintings all day.
These portraits bring the subjects to life. Colours are striking with the two ladies. Then little girl so soft and pretty. They could almost step out of the paintings. Beautiful artist.
They are beautiful portraits and works of arts… realistic but soft and painterly… luscious colors and interesting compositions…just lovely!! Thank you for sharing these.
Twilight confidences is wonderfully intriguing. Overall I am taken with the emotional complexity that hovers underneath the beautifully crafted scenes and poses.
The Portrait Society of American has a scholarship and mentorship program, “The Celia Beaux”; it’s very supportive.
Love her use of color!
What wonderful portraits. I know how hard good portraits are to do. Cecilia Beau has captured personalities so well. She brought those people to life. I like the use of light and the costumes. I could look at those paintings all day.
These portraits bring the subjects to life. Colours are striking with the two ladies. Then little girl so soft and pretty. They could almost step out of the paintings. Beautiful artist.
They are beautiful portraits and works of arts… realistic but soft and painterly… luscious colors and interesting compositions…just lovely!! Thank you for sharing these.
Twilight confidences is wonderfully intriguing. Overall I am taken with the emotional complexity that hovers underneath the beautifully crafted scenes and poses.