February 24 is the birthday of French painter CHARLES LE BRUN (1619-1690).

Le Brun "served as a court painter to Louis XIV, who declared him 'the greatest French artist of all time.' Le Brun was a dominant figure in 17th-century French art and was influenced by Nicolas Poussin." (Wikipedia)

To see examples of Le Brun’s art, CLICK HERE.

February 24 is the birthday of Danish-Norwegian artist JOHANN CHRISTIAN DAHL (1788-1857).

Dahl "is considered the first great romantic painter in Norway, the founder of the "golden age" of Norwegian painting, and, by some, one of the greatest European artists of all time. He is often described as 'the father of Norwegian landscape painting'and is regarded as the first Norwegian painter to reach a level of artistic accomplishment comparable to that attained by the greatest European artists of his day.'

To see examples of Dahl’s art, CLICK HERE.

February 24 is the birthday of American painter and printmaker WINSLOW HOMER (1836-1910).

"The Sun will not rise or set without my notice and thanks."

"Never put more than two waves in a picture; it's fussy."

"In dark, cold solitude of winter months . . . I thank the Lord for this opportunity for reflection."

Homer "was an American landscape painter and illustrator, best known for his marine subjects. He is considered one of the foremost painters of 19th-century America and a preeminent figure in American art in general.

Largely self-taught, Homer began his career working as a commercial illustrator. He subsequently took up oil painting and produced major studio works characterized by the weight and density he exploited from the medium. He also worked extensively in watercolor, creating a fluid and prolific oeuvre, primarily chronicling his working vacations." (Wikipedia)

To see examples of Homer’s art, CLICK HERE.

February 24 is the birthday of French pianist, composer and conductor MICHEL LEGRAND (1932-2019).

"I have a very strange melodic gift: melodies come to me effortlessly."

Legrand, who won three Oscars during a career spanning more than half a century, died last January. He won an Academy Award in 1969 for the song 'The Windmills of Your Mind' from the film 'The Thomas Crown Affair.' He also won Oscars for his music for 'Summer of '42' in 1972 and for 'Yentl' in 1984 and won five Grammys during his career. His music for "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" is some of his most memorable.

February 24 is the birthday of Polish painter ZADISŁAW BEKŚINSKI (1929-2005).

Bekśinski "was a Polish painter, photographer, and sculptor specializing in the field of dystopian surrealism.

Beksiński made his paintings and drawings in what he called either a Baroque or a Gothic manner. His creations were made mainly in two periods. The first period of work is generally considered to contain expressionistic colour, with a strong style of "utopian realism" and surreal architecture. The second period contained more abstract style, with the main features of formalism.

Beksiński was stabbed to death at his Warsaw apartment on February 21, 2005, by a 19-year-old acquaintance from Wołomin, reportedly because Beksiński refused to lend him money." (Wikipedia)

To see examples of Bekśinski’s art, CLICK HERE.

On February 24, 1607, Claudio Monteverdi's "L'ORFEO," generally considered the first, or one of the first, operas had its premiere performance.

"Tomorrow evening the Most Serene Lord the Prince is to sponsor a [play] in a room in the apartments which the Most Serene Lady had the use of ...it should be most unusual, as all the actors are to sing their parts." (Letter from Carlo Magno, official at the court of Francesco Gonzaga)

On February 24, 1711, George Frideric Handel's RINALDO, the first Italian opera written for the London stage, had its premiere.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On February 24, 1876, the play PEER GYNT by Henrik Ibsen with music by Edvard Grieg made its premiere took place in Christiana (Oslo), Norway.

The fantastical play with its witches, nixies, brownies (household spirits who come out at night), gnomes and trolls, "Peer Gynt chronicles the journey of its titular character from the Norwegian mountains to the North African desert. According to Klaus Van Den Berg, 'its origins are romantic, but the play also anticipates the fragmentations of emerging modernism' and the 'cinematic script blends poetry with social satire and realistic scenes with surreal ones.'" (Wikipedia)