The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (32 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists
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‘Bad Painting’
.
Baglione , Giovanni
(
c.
1566–1643).
Italian painter and writer, born and mainly active in Rome. He is of little account as a painter and is remembered as the author of
Le vite de' pittori, scultori, ed architetti…
, published in 1642. One of the fundamental sources of information for the period covered (1572–1642), this collection of biographies deals mainly with Roman artists but also discusses foreign artists working in the city such as
Bril
and
Rubens
. In 1603 Baglione sued
Caravaggio
and three other painters for circulating coarse satirical poems about him. His hatred of Caravaggio comes out in the biography devoted to him in his
Vite
, but ironically his best pictures are his most Caravaggesque.
Baily , Edward Hodges
(1788–1867).
English sculptor. He was the son of a carver of ships' figure-heads at Bristol and
Flaxman's
favourite pupil. His two most conspicuous works are also his most inaccessible—the statues at the top of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square (1843) and the almost equally tall Grey's Monument in Newcastle upon Tyne (1837).
Eve at the Fountain
(City Art Gal., Bristol, 1822) was highly regarded by his contemporaries. His prolific output of portrait busts included many of fellow artists (examples are in the NPG, London).
Bakhuyzen , Ludolf
(1631–1708).
Dutch marine painter, active mainly in Amsterdam. After the van de
Veldes
moved to England in 1672, Bakhuyzen became the most popular marine painter in Holland. He captures the drama and movement of ships, but seldom achieves the poetic effects of either van de Velde the Younger or Jan van de
Cappelle
.
Bakst , Léon
(originally Lev)
(1866–1924).
Russian painter, graphic artist, and stage designer, active for much of his career in Paris. He was a founder member of the
World of Art
group in 1898. Originally he made his reputation as a portraitist, but from about 1902 he turned increasingly to stage design and is now remembered above all for his costumes and sets for
Diaghilev's
Ballets Russes.
The uninhibited splendour of his spectacles revolutionized European stage design with their combination of oriental magnificence and the gaudy colour of Russian peasant art.
baldachin
(or baldacchino)
.
A canopy over an altar or other hallowed object; it may be portable for use in processions or fixed, and in the latter case it may be supported on columns or suspended from the ceiling. The most famous baldacchino is that designed by
Bernini
for St Peter's in Rome. This type, with twisted columns and fringed canopy, became popular in
Baroque
churches.

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