January 26

Italian Baroque painter born in Parma in 1582. Trained under Annibale Carracci and developed a dynamic, dramatic style. Renowned for his illusionistic ceiling frescoes in churches across Rome. Major works include the dome of Sant'Andrea della Valle and frescoes at San Carlo ai Catinari. His bold use of perspective influenced later generations of Baroque artists. Died in 1647; Lanfranco's works continue to be celebrated for their energy and drama.

Born in Paris in 1714, Pigalle displayed exceptional talent in sculpture from an early age. Studied at the Royal Academy and won acclaim for his neoclassical busts and statues. Notable works include the statue of Voltaire and the monument to Marshal Maurice de Saxe. Served as a professor at the École de dessin, influencing a generation of French sculptors. Blended Rococo elegance with classical restraint in his expressive figures. Died in 1785; Pigalle's works remain central to collections of eighteenth-century French art.

Louis Anquetin was a French painter and printmaker active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a pioneer of the Cloisonnist technique, which uses flat color areas separated by bold outlines. Alongside Émile Bernard and under the influence of Japanese prints, Anquetin developed this style that prefigured modern art movements. His notable works include 'Avenue de Clichy: Five O’Clock in the Evening,' which showcases his use of vibrant color and simplified forms. Later in his career, he turned towards classical art and studied Flemish masters. Though less celebrated during his lifetime, Anquetin’s innovations influenced the development of Post-Impressionist and Modernist painting.

Kees van Dongen (1877-1968) was a leading figure in the Fauvist movement, renowned for his bold use of color and expressive brushwork. Born in Delfshaven, Netherlands, he moved to Paris in 1897 and quickly became part of the avant-garde art scene. His portraits of high-society women, featuring striking reds and fluid forms, captivated critics and collectors alike. Van Dongen's work bridged early modernism and popular culture, influencing fashion and design. He exhibited widely, including at the Salon d'Automne, and was celebrated for his daring elegance. His vibrant style remains influential in art and design to this day.

Günther Reindorff was born in 1899 in Saint Petersburg and studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts. Following the Russian Revolution, he moved to Estonia, where he became a pioneering figure in graphic design and illustration. He is best known for his work on postage stamps, banknotes, and bookplates that blended folk motifs with modernist aesthetics. Reindorff also worked as a teacher and influenced a generation of Estonian artists through his role at the Tallinn School of Applied Art. His designs helped establish the visual identity of the newly independent Estonian state. He continued to produce impactful works until his death in 1974.

Karl Ristenpart was born in 1900 in Darmstadt and became one of the leading interpreters of Baroque repertoire in the mid-20th century. He founded the Freiburg Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra in 1947 and led numerous acclaimed recordings of Bach, Handel, and Telemann. His precise conducting style and attention to historical performance practices earned him international recognition. Ristenpart toured extensively across Europe and broadcast many concerts on radio, bringing less-known works to wider audiences. He also taught conducting and influenced a generation of young musicians. He passed away in 1967, leaving a legacy of recordings that remain reference points for Baroque performance.

Charles Lane was born in 1905 in San Francisco and became a prolific character actor in Hollywood. Over his 70-year career, he appeared in over 250 films and numerous television shows. Lane was known for his distinctive voice and quick humorous delivery, often playing stern authority figures. In addition to acting, he performed as a singer on stage and radio broadcasts. He worked with directors such as Frank Capra and appeared in classics like 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.' He retired in his late 90s and passed away in 2007 at the age of 102, celebrated as one of the longest-working actors in Hollywood.

Maria von Trapp was born in Austria in 1905 and gained fame as the matriarch of the singing von Trapp family. She brought her family's performances to international stages after emigrating to the United States in 1938. Her recordings of folk and sacred music introduced audiences worldwide to Austrian musical traditions. The family's escape from Nazi-occupied Austria and their concert tours inspired the Broadway musical and film 'The Sound of Music.' Beyond performing, Maria authored memoirs and toured teaching music and singing. She died in 1987, leaving a lasting legacy in both music and popular culture.

Rupprecht Geiger was born in 1908 and became a leading figure in post-war German abstraction. He developed a distinctive style characterized by bold monochromatic fields and dynamic compositions. Geiger studied at the Munich and Karlsruhe art academies before teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. His works were showcased in major international exhibitions and are held in prominent museums worldwide. He received numerous awards for his contributions to modern art and continued creating well into his later years. Geiger died in 2009, leaving a lasting legacy in contemporary abstraction.

Stéphane Grappelli was born in 1908 and rose to fame as one of the pioneers of European jazz. He co-founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France with guitarist Django Reinhardt in the 1930s, crafting an elegant and rhythmic violin style. Grappelli's improvisations and melodic sensibility made him a sought-after collaborator, performing with jazz legends worldwide. His career experienced a revival in the 1970s, leading to extensive touring and acclaimed recordings. He received numerous honors for his influence on jazz violin and music education. Grappelli passed away in 1997, leaving a rich discography and inspiring generations of string players.

Jean Image was born in 1910 in Budapest and later emigrated to France, where he became a trailblazer in animation. He directed one of France's first feature-length animated films, establishing his studio in the late 1940s. Image created memorable characters and whimsical stories that captured the imaginations of children across Europe. His work spanned cinema and television, influencing a generation of animators and filmmakers. He also wrote screenplays and collaborated on major French productions, pushing the boundaries of the medium. Jean Image passed away in 1989, leaving a legacy as a founding father of French animation.

Born in 1911, Norbert Schultze studied music in Germany before launching a prolific career as a composer and conductor. In 1938 he wrote the melody for 'Lili Marleen,' which became an iconic song recorded by artists worldwide. Schultze also composed film scores and stage works, showcasing versatility across genres. After World War II, he continued to influence German music through teaching and writing musical theory. His compositions left an indelible mark on European popular music and cinema. Schultze passed away in 2002, remembered for his memorable melodies and contributions to 20th-century composition.