January 24 is the birthday of Italian castrato singer FARINELLI (1705-1782).

Farinelli "was the stage name of Carlo Maria Michelangelo Nicola Broschi (pronounced, a celebrated Italian castrato singer of the 18th century and one of the greatest singers in the history of opera. Farinelli has been described as having had soprano vocal range and as having sung the highest note customary at the time, C6." (Wikipedia)

January 24 is the birthday of E.T.A. HOFFMANN (1776-1822).

“The human spirit is itself the most wonderful fairy tale that can possibly be. What a magnificent world lies enclosed within our bosoms!”

Hoffmann was one of the most important authors of the Romantic era. He wrote fantasy, horror and fairy tales, many of which became the basis of operas and ballets, like THE NUTCRACKER and COPPELIA. Hoffman, himself, was the subject of an opera, THE TALES OF HOFFMANN by Jacques Offenbach. He was also a music lover (he adored Mozart) and composer. Below is a sample of Hoffmann's beautiful choral music . . .

January 24 is the birthday of Russian painter VASILY SURIKOV (1848-1916).

Surikov "was a Russian Realist history painter of Siberian origin descended from Cossacks. Many of his works have become familiar to the general public through their use as illustrations." (Wikipedia)

To see samples of Surikov’s art, CLICK HERE.

January 24 is the birthday of Russian Symbolist painter KONSTANTIN BOGAEVSKY (1872-1943).

"The main theme of his works became the symbolist landscapes of a non-existent land (known to his friends as Bogaevia) that he saw only in his dreams." (Wikipedia)

To see samples of Bogaevsky’s art, CLICK HERE.

January 24 is the birthday of French painter, commercial poster artist, and typeface designer CASSANDRE (1901-1968).

"Cassandre became successful enough that with the help of partners he was able to set up his own advertising agency called Alliance Graphique, serving a wide variety of clients during the 1930s. He is perhaps best known for his posters advertising travel, for clients such as the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. He was a pioneer on airbrush arts." (Wikipedia)

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

January 24 is the birthday of American artist ROBERT MOTHERWELL (1915-1991).

Motherwell "was an American abstract expressionist painter, printmaker, and editor of The Dada Painters and Poets: an Anthology. He was one of the youngest of the New York School, which also included Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko.

Trained in philosophy, Motherwell then became an artist regarded as among the most articulate spokesmen and the founders of the abstract expressionist painters. He was known for his series of abstract paintings and prints which touched on political, philosophical and literary themes, such as the Elegies to the Spanish Republic." (Wikipedia)

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

January 24 is the birthday of Native American ballerina MARIA TALLCHIEF (1925-2013).

Tallchief is considered America's first prima ballerina and the first Native American to hold that rank.

"Almost from birth, Tall Chief was involved in dance, starting formal lessons at age three. When she was eight, her family relocated from her birth home of Fairfax, Oklahoma, to Los Angeles, California, to advance the careers of her and her younger sister, Marjorie. At age 17, she moved to New York City in search of a spot with a major ballet company. She spent the next five years with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, where she met legendary choreographer George Balanchine. When Balanchine co-founded what would become the New York City Ballet in 1946, Tallchief became the company's first star. The combination of Balanchine's difficult choreography and Tallchief's passionate dancing revolutionized the ballet." (Wikipedia)

vJanuary 24 is the birthday of American sculptor RUTH ASAWA (1926-2013).

Asawa was a driving force behind the creation of the San Francisco School of the Arts which was renamed the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts in 2010 in tribute to her.

She was interned during World War II, first at the Santa Anita racetrack, where she lived in a horse stall that reeked of manure, and then at a relocation center in Arkansas, where 8,000 detainees were surrounded by barbed wire fences and watch towers.

To see samples of her art, CLICK HERE.