Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Antique Painting of the Day: "The Unhappy Mother" by Louis Gallait

Image courtesy of Antwerp - PVSK Museum
Belgian history is rich with amazing artists. One of their finest, Louis Gallait, was born in 1810 and showed a genius for art at an early age. By twenty-two, his paintings were winning prizes as best in exhibition. Soon after, Gallait moved to Antwerp while he continued to study his craft.

In addition to epic historical paintings, he became known for his realistic and sentimental scenes such as this painting of a mother and her children which he called, The Unhappy Mother. While some criticized some of the maudlin themes in his art, his talent was widely celebrated, earning him a permanent place in art history.

Today, Gallait’s works are displayed in the finest museums in the world as he perfectly represents the depth of Belgian artistry.


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