August 15

Born in Pitigliano, Italy in 1702, Francesco Zuccarelli studied painting in Florence and later in Rome, where he developed a passion for landscape art. He traveled across Europe, eventually settling in London, where his serene pastoral scenes gained popularity among British nobility. Zuccarelli’s elegant compositions, featuring shepherds, ruins, and gentle light, epitomized the Rococo style. In 1768, he was elected a founding member of the Royal Academy, solidifying his reputation in the art world. Commissioned by patrons such as Lord Burlington, he produced paintings and engravings that influenced the development of landscape painting. He returned to Italy later in life and died in Venice in 1788, leaving a lasting legacy of bucolic beauty.

Born in Gräfenroda, Germany in 1736, Johann Christoph Kellner was the son of the renowned organist Johann Peter Kellner. He received rigorous musical training and excelled on the organ and harpsichord. Kellner served as court organist and chamber musician at the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, where he composed extensively. His output includes keyboard sonatas, orchestral sinfonias, and sacred cantatas that reflect a transition from Baroque complexity to Classical clarity. His organ works were widely performed in churches across Germany and influenced subsequent generations of composers. Kellner died in 1803, leaving a body of work that remains valued for its craftsmanship and musical insight.

Walter Crane was born on August 15, 1845, and became a leading figure in Victorian illustration. Influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites and Japanese prints, he produced colorful engravings and posters. Crane collaborated with William Morris, designing wallpapers and textiles for the Arts and Crafts movement. His illustrated children's books, such as 'The Baby's Opera', showcased imaginative scenes and decorative borders. He advocated for educational art for all classes, believing in the social value of beauty. Crane's designs have had a lasting influence on graphic arts and decorative design. He died in 1915, leaving a rich legacy in illustration and design.

Born in London in 1875 to a Sierra Leone Creole father and English mother, Coleridge-Taylor excelled at the Royal College of Music. His cantata trilogy based on Longfellow’s "Hiawatha" brought him international acclaim and earned him the nickname "the African Mahler." A gifted violinist, he toured Europe and North America, advocating for musicians of African descent. He composed chamber works, songs, and orchestral pieces that blended Romantic and folk influences. Coleridge-Taylor co-founded the Society of Black Composers, promoting diversity in classical music. His early death in 1912 cut short a brilliant career, but his music remains cherished.

Marion Bauer was born in 1882 in New York City and studied music at the National Conservatory. She taught theory and composition at institutions including the New York College of Music and co-founded the American Music Guild. As a composer, she wrote orchestral, chamber, and vocal works that blended late Romantic and early modern styles. Bauer was also a prolific critic and author, publishing books and articles that introduced audiences to contemporary music. Her advocacy for American composers and her own compositions played a significant role in shaping the nation's musical identity.

Ivan Meštrović was born in 1883 in Vrpolje, then part of Austria-Hungary. He studied sculpture in Vienna and Prague before gaining international acclaim for his war memorials and public monuments. His works, such as 'The Bowman' and statues in the United States, reflect a dynamic blend of traditional and modernist styles. In 1947, he emigrated to the United States and taught sculpture at Syracuse University. Meštrović's legacy endures in his expressive forms and his influence on 20th-century monumental art.

Jacques Ibert was born in 1890 in Paris and studied at the Conservatoire de Paris. He won the Prix de Rome in 1919 and composed prolifically for orchestra, opera, ballet, and film. Notable works include the orchestral suite 'Escales' and the one-act opera 'Angélique'. Ibert taught at the École Normale de Musique and later at the Paris Conservatoire, influencing a generation of composers. He also served as director of the French National Orchestra, championing contemporary music throughout his career.

Paul Outerbridge Jr. was born in 1896 and became a pioneering figure in early color photography and modernist imagery. He studied at the Clarence H. White School and later worked in Hollywood, producing fashion and portrait photography that defied convention. Outerbridge mastered tri-color carbro printing and contributed to publications like Vogue and Vanity Fair. In 1946, he founded the Stringy-Bark Studio in New Jersey, where he taught advanced photographic techniques. His innovative approach helped elevate photography to a recognized art form. Outerbridge's influence persists in contemporary color photography following his death in 1958.

Jack Tworkov was born in 1900 in Biala Podlaska and emigrated to the United States as a child. He emerged as a central figure in the Abstract Expressionist movement in New York during the 1940s and 1950s. Tworkov exhibited at the landmark 9th Street Art Exhibition in 1951 and served as a professor at Yale University and the City College of New York. In later years, his work evolved from gestural abstraction to structured grid and stripe compositions. His paintings are held in major museums such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Tworkov continued teaching and creating art until his death in 1982, influencing future generations of artists.

Hugo Winterhalter was an American composer, arranger, and bandleader born in 1909 in Pennsylvania. He began his career as a pianist and arranger for major record labels, quickly becoming one of the most sought-after talents in the industry. In the 1950s, his own orchestra recorded a string of hit albums and singles, blending big band, pop, and easy listening styles. Winterhalter arranged and conducted for stars such as Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. His hallmark was sophisticated, richly textured arrangements that helped define the sound of mid-century American pop music.

Paul Rand, born in 1914 in New York City, revolutionized the field of graphic design with his modernist approach to corporate identity. He created iconic logos for companies such as IBM, ABC, UPS, and Westinghouse, emphasizing simplicity, functionality, and visual wit. Rand married European avant-garde principles with American commercial demands, elevating logo design to a fine art. He taught at Yale University for decades, influencing generations of designers through both his work and his writings. Rand's designs remain some of the most recognizable and enduring symbols in corporate branding.

Born in Vienna in 1920, Judy Cassab fled Europe and settled in Australia in 1951, where she became a pioneering figure in the nation's art community. She studied at the National Gallery School in Melbourne and developed a distinctive style characterized by bold brushwork and emotional depth. Cassab won the prestigious Archibald Prize twice, in 1960 and 1967, for her striking portraits of public figures. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, earning her an Order of Australia medal. She taught and mentored emerging artists for decades, leaving a lasting impact on generations of painters. Cassab passed away in 2008, but her vibrant legacy endures in galleries around the world.