July 12

Born in 1468, Juan del Encina served as both a poet and composer at the royal courts of Spain. He wrote some of the earliest secular Spanish plays, blending music and theatre in innovative ways. His pastoral eclogues and lyrical compositions laid foundations for Spanish literature and music. Del Encina traveled to Italy, absorbing humanist influences that enriched his artistic style. His surviving works include dozens of villancicos and dramatic interludes still studied as landmarks of the period. He died around 1530, leaving a lasting legacy on the Spanish Golden Age of arts.

Evaristo Felice Dall'Abaco was born in 1675 in Verona and trained in Bologna. He served at the Bavarian court in Munich, composing violin sonatas and concertos. His works blend Italian lyricism with French dance forms, showcasing Baroque elegance. Dall'Abaco's music influenced later composers and remains part of the violin repertoire. He also held positions as a court musician and music director in European noble houses. He died in 1742, remembered for enriching Baroque instrumental music.

Boudin was among the first plein-air painters, capturing the effects of sky, sea, and light on canvas. He mentored a young Claude Monet, encouraging him to paint outdoors and observe nature directly. His depictions of Normandy beaches and harbors are celebrated for their atmospheric clarity and color. Boudin's work bridged Romanticism and Impressionism, earning him acclaim in the Paris art scene. He exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon and influenced a generation of landscape artists. Today, his paintings are prized for their fresh palette and vivid representation of coastal life.

George Edgar Ohr was born in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1857 and opened the Ohr’s Art Pottery studio in the 1880s. He pioneered thin-walled ceramics and twisted, pinched shapes that defied traditional vessel forms. Ohr experimented with flamboyant glazes, producing reflective and metallic finishes. Despite his technical mastery and artistic vision, he remained underappreciated in his lifetime. After his death in 1918, his work was largely forgotten until a mid-20th century revival recognized his influence on American studio pottery. Today, his pieces are highly prized by collectors and museums around the world.

Born in Novgorod in 1861, Anton Arensky studied under Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He gained acclaim for his chamber works, including the Piano Quintet in F minor, and orchestral pieces. Arensky served as a professor at the Moscow Conservatory, where he taught future greats such as Rachmaninoff and Scriabin. His lyrical melodies and rich harmonic language mark the mature Russian Romantic style. Despite his early death from tuberculosis in 1906, his compositions remain part of the standard repertoire for piano and chamber ensembles.

Max Jacob was born in Quimper, France in 1876 and moved to Paris, where he became involved with the Symbolist and later Cubist movements. He published collections of poetry, such as ‘Le cornet à dés’ and ‘La défense de Tartuffe’, blending humor and religious themes. Jacob also created paintings and caricatures, contributing to early 20th-century art criticism. A convert to Catholicism, he explored spiritual themes in his work. During World War II, Jacob was arrested as a Jew and interned at Drancy before being released due to ill health; he died in 1944. His multidisciplinary talents and connections with artists like Guillaume Apollinaire and Pablo Picasso cemented his place in modern art history.

Natalia Goncharova (1881–1962) emerged as a leading figure of the Russian avant-garde, co-founding the Rayonist movement and embracing Cubo-Futurist influences. She designed innovative costumes and stage sets for Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, transforming early 20th-century theater with vivid colors and folk-inspired motifs. Her paintings and illustrations drew on Russian folk art, iconography, and constructivist ideas to challenge academic traditions. Forced to live in exile after 1915, she settled in Paris and continued to exhibit internationally, maintaining her creative spirit throughout her life. Goncharova's multifaceted career spanned painting, illustration, and stage design, leaving a lasting impact on modern art and performance.

Amedeo Modigliani (1884–1920) moved to Paris in 1906 and joined the city's dynamic avant-garde community, including Pablo Picasso and Constantin Brâncuși. He developed a distinctive style marked by graceful elongated forms in both his paintings and sculptures, influenced by African art and Italian Renaissance classics. Despite his financial struggles and poor health, Modigliani produced a prolific body of work, exhibiting alongside the leading artists of his time. His private and bohemian lifestyle in Montparnasse epitomized the artist's struggle between creativity and adversity. Modigliani's art achieved greater recognition after his death, cementing his legacy as a seminal figure in early 20th-century modernism.

Kirsten Flagstad (1895–1962) rose to international fame at the Metropolitan Opera, where she debuted in 1935 and became renowned for her portrayals of Wagner heroines. Her rich, powerful voice and dramatic intensity set new standards for roles such as Isolde in Tristan und Isolde and Brünnhilde in the Ring cycle. Flagstad's performances during World War II were marred by controversy due to her residence in Nazi-occupied Norway, but her artistry remained unmatched. After the war, she continued to perform and later taught voice at the Juilliard School, influencing a generation of singers. Her legacy endures through acclaimed recordings and the continued admiration of opera enthusiasts.

Oscar Hammerstein II was an American producer, director, and one of the most influential lyricists and librettists in musical theater history. Partnering with composer Richard Rodgers, he created classics such as Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music. His works won multiple Tony Awards and Pulitzer Prizes, transforming Broadway with emotionally rich storytelling and memorable melodies. Hammerstein’s commitment to integrating narrative depth with song set new standards for the genre. Beyond his musicals, he mentored young artists and advocated for social causes through his art.

Motoichi Kumagai (1909–2010) was a Japanese photographer and illustrator whose work spanned much of the 20th century. His images and drawings highlighted everyday scenes, blending visual storytelling with artistic finesse. Kumagai experimented with various techniques, creating evocative compositions that celebrated Japanese landscapes and culture. His illustrations complemented his photographs, offering viewers a harmonious blend of realism and artistic interpretation. Over decades, he exhibited his work in regional galleries and published portfolios that influenced aspiring artists. Kumagai’s legacy endures through his sensitive portrayal of ordinary moments, inspiring appreciation for the art in daily life.

Born in Pennsylvania, he became one of the best-known U.S. artists of the mid-20th century. His works often portray the landscapes and people of Chadds Ford and Maine. Christina's World, his most famous painting, captured themes of isolation and longing. He experimented with egg tempera and watercolor mediums. Wyeth received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963. His art continues to influence contemporary realist painters.