Here is a study I recently made of a Madonna by the late Renaissance genius Bronzino. It is obviously unfinished in many parts (lips, veil etc), but my purpose was to practice skin lightness and facial composure.

I love Bronzino. Although widely revered, he is not usually included in the pantheon of  grand masters of the High Renaissance alongside Da Vinci or Michelangelo. He is most famous in popular culture for painting an allegory with Venus and Cupid snogging from which Terry Gilliam famously excised the foot which squashed the Monty Python titles. The painting itself is stunningly executed, except for the horribly contorted stance of cupid. I reckon he was twisted so that Bronzino could have him snogging his mother and showing off his pert bottom in the same composition – I know it sounds brazen, but you know what that lot were like.

I think Bronzino is one of the greatest painters of all time, for various reasons. The greatest wealth of his work is of course in Florence, but it is well worth checking out the three paintings by him in the National Gallery (including the licentious allegory, you’ll be glad to hear).

I have now included an Flash portfolio of my photography in a page link which can be found running along the top of this blog.

I have tried to display a broad range of subjects, techniques, and styles. There are landscapes and lizards, police and warplanes, bowling alleys and burkas. There is even a cow who is trying to sneak in the door to steal my curry. She didn’t get a crumb.