June 25

Franchinus Gaffurius (1451–1522) served as choirmaster and music director at Milan Cathedral and the court of Ludovico Sforza. He composed sacred masses, motets, and madrigals that combined intricate counterpoint with Italian melodic grace. His theoretical works, including 'Theorica musice' and 'Practica musice,' codified the rules of notation and counterpoint for future generations. Gaffurius studied the works of Franco-Netherlandish masters and integrated their techniques into Italian music. His treatises became standard references for composers and theorists throughout Europe. He is remembered as a bridge between medieval traditions and the flowering of Renaissance music theory.

Born in 1626, Simon Ushakov became one of the leading icon painters in 17th-century Russia. Appointed to the Kremlin Armoury, he blended traditional Byzantine styles with Western techniques, earning imperial patronage from Tsar Alexei I. Ushakov authored instructional manuals that shaped Russian painting and trained a generation of artists. His distinctive use of color and realism marked a shift in Orthodox iconography. He died in 1686, leaving a legacy as both an artist and teacher during Russia's cultural transformation.

Born in 1681 in Magdeburg, Georg Philipp Telemann was largely self-taught and became a master of various musical styles. He held important positions in Leipzig, Sorau, and Hamburg, where he served as music director of civic churches. Telemann composed over 3,000 works, ranging from orchestral suites to operas and chamber music. He was admired by contemporaries like Bach and Händel and published influential treatises on music theory. Telemann died in 1767, leaving a vast body of work that enriches the Baroque repertoire.

Born in 1721 in Nottinghamshire, Thomas Sandby excelled as a cartographer and topographical watercolourist, gaining appointment as royal draughtsman to the Duke of Cumberland. In 1768, he co-founded the Royal Academy of Arts and became its first professor of perspective. Sandby designed architectural works and produced detailed engravings of British and European landscapes. His teaching and publications helped popularize drawing and architectural principles among amateurs and professionals. He died in 1798, remembered for shaping both the artistic and institutional foundations of British art.

Born in 1776 in Königsberg, Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann studied law but pursued careers in music and literature. He composed operas and chamber works while serving as a judicial officer in various German cities. Hoffmann's eerie and imaginative stories, such as 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,' blended fantasy with psychological depth. His critical essays on music and art influenced the Romantic movement in Germany. He died of tuberculosis in 1822, leaving a legacy as a pioneer of both Romantic literature and music criticism.

Antoine-Louis Barye was born in Paris in 1796. He began his career as a silversmith before moving to bronze sculpture. Barye specialized in animalier art, portraying animals with realistic detail and movement. His works were exhibited at the Paris Salon and earned widespread acclaim. He published treatises on anatomy and sculptural technique. Barye's influence shaped 19th-century sculpture, and his bronzes are exhibited worldwide.

François Jouffroy was born in Paris in 1806 and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts under David d'Angers. He won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1832, allowing him to study classical sculpture in Rome. His work is celebrated for its refined forms and emotional expression, reflecting the ideals of Neoclassicism. Jouffroy created numerous public monuments and taught generations of sculptors as a professor at the École. He was elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts and remained an influential figure in French art until his death in 1882.

Hans Rott was born in 1858 in Wallerstein, Germany, and studied at the Vienna Conservatory under Anton Bruckner. He composed a Symphony in E major that profoundly impacted his contemporary Gustav Mahler. Rott served as an organist and choir director in various Austrian churches while developing his compositional voice. He suffered a mental breakdown in 1881 and spent his final years in a psychiatric hospital. Rott died in 1884 at the age of 26, but his rediscovered works have earned him posthumous recognition for their originality.

Stanford White was born in 1853 in Bel Air, Maryland, and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He co-founded the renowned architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, shaping the American Renaissance style. White’s notable works include the Washington Square Arch in New York City and the second Madison Square Garden. His designs combined classical elements with modern engineering, influencing urban landscapes across the United States. White’s murder in 1906 by Harry K. Thaw over socialite Evelyn Nesbit became one of the era’s most sensational scandals.

Lawrence Alma-Tadema was born in 1836 in Dronrijp, Netherlands, and trained at the Royal Academy of Antwerp. He specialized in detailed scenes of Roman and Greek life, earning acclaim for his luminous technique. In 1870, he moved to London, where his works became highly fashionable among the Victorian elite. Alma-Tadema was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1899 and served as President of the Royal Academy. He died in 1912, leaving a legacy as one of the most successful and influential painters of his time.

Thomas Eakins was born in 1844 in Philadelphia and studied art in Munich and Paris. Appointed to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, he revolutionized art education with his emphasis on anatomy and realism. Eakins incorporated photography into his teaching to capture human movement and form with scientific precision. His celebrated works include 'The Gross Clinic' (1875) and 'The Swimming Hole' (1884), exemplifying his bold realism. Despite controversies over his methods, Eakins profoundly influenced generations of American artists before his death in 1916.

Born in 1906 in Villa Purificación, Jalisco, Asunción Reyes Sánchez adopted the stage name Lucha Reyes. She rose to fame in the 1930s with her emotive renditions of ranchera classics, earning the title "La Reina del Falsete". Reyes recorded hits like “¡Ay Jalisco, no te rajes!” that became staples of Mexican music culture. She also appeared in films during Mexico’s Golden Age of cinema, showcasing her charismatic screen presence. Her passionate performances broke barriers for female artists in a male-dominated industry. Reyes died in 1944 at the age of 37, but her legacy endures in the heart of Mexican musical tradition.