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Dispelling rumors and tales surrounding his life with the true story of passion and obsession. In his words  we understand. "Paintings have a life of their own that derives from the painter's soul."

Not the image he presents in his pictures, but his much more complex life filled with twists and turns. Few people really know very much about the man who tells stories in his paintings.

The story behind the man, not the icon, who refused to think of himself as an impressionist artist. He believed “a work of art must seize upon you, wrap you up in itself, and carry you away.”

Who really did most of his important sculptures? The tragic love story that is carved in stone, the 19th century sculptor and his talented student Camille Claudel. Passion, torment and love affairs are all factors of remarkable artwork.   

One of the most important and influential artists of his time, and yet any reference to him was completely eliminated from Art History books. An artist you may not know but will never forget.

The most consistent and dedicated of the Impressionist artists committed to recording the effects of light and atmosphere. He never gave up on his ideals. Monet once said “Color is my day long obsession joy and torment.”

The reluctant artist who had difficulty parting with his work. As an unrelenting perfectionist, he believed that "Painting is easy when you don't know how, but very difficult when you do." Degas wanted to be “famous but unknown” 

The most exalted artist in history once said “Carving is easy, you just go down to the skin and stop”. In an age of great artists, he was perhaps the greatest, creating immortal works in all three major arts sculpture, painting, and architecture.    

A savvy businessman, Tiffany built an industry to satisfy his creative energy. No American artist before or since has enjoyed such a universal reputation for versatility, creative genius and uniqueness of vision, turning art into industry.    

One of the many ironies of Modigliani’s career is that so tortured a life could produce such a serene body of work. His art managed to bridge the stylistic chasm between classical Italian painting and avant-garde Modernism. 

 It takes a very long time to get to know Andrew Wyeth as a man and even longer to know him as an artist. He's a cover-up kind of guy in life and in art. But the key to understanding both human being and creator is to know the Wyeth Dynasty, a family of artists that goes on for generations 

Mary Cassatt was responsible for introducing the paintings of the French Impressionists to the United States. Her paintings of women and children focused on a gaze or gesture encouraging a bond between model and viewer.  

Seurat was interested in the science behind art. Pointillism called “chromo-luminarism” by the artist. He dramatically influenced the course of modern art with barely more than six paintings  and stroll through the  the park.

His collages are unique and melodic and represent his love of jazz. Bearden had an imposing presence in what was later to be called the Harlem Renaissance. 

Few people know the amazing story behind the man often described as the embodiment of the Renaissance. He said “People of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”  

 If there is a single image that encapsulates art deco, and the glitz of the 1920's, it is a Tamara de Lempicka portrait. She chose models from the internationally elite, but only if she considered them respectable enough for her to paint. Sitters paid whatever sum she demanded to be socially sanctified and immortalized by her. 

 Many people consider him the greatest innovator of the 20th century. Although constantly pushing experimentation, his paintings represent pure calm and harmony.

She transformed herself from an artist's model into a successful artist observing and learning their techniques. Known as the “mistress of Montmartre” living by “Vive l’amour” she created powerful and controversial paintings. Her version of Adam and Eve was the first piece by a female artist to show a nude man and woman together.

Frederic Remington once said that he hoped his epitaph would read, "He knew the horse". To him the bond between the horse and the rider was both powerful and lifesaving, as symbols of freedom on the frontier. His work inspires love and appreciation for the rustic life of the West.

 Gustav Klimt was a controversial figure in his time. His work was constantly criticized for being too sensual. Today, they stand out as a “visual symphony” and are regarded as the most important paintings ever to come out of Vienna. 

Drama, Passion, Obsession and Tragedy - The Hidden Lives of our Greatest Artists. The most outrageous tales about some of our most famous artists - all the good stuff our art history books left out! "Many of the best artists lived on the edge of chaos - where all great art is born". 

Unforgettable images of enchanting women, streaming hair, flowing fabrics, Mucha’s work epitomizes the Art Nouveau Movement, and yet his name is barely known. He felt that art should serve as language to the viewer.

Photographer universally recognized as one of the finest image makers best known for capturing the “unguarded moment” . "It is etched on a person’s face. If you wait, people will forget your camera and their soul will drift into view.”    

Picasso's enormous output kept his name before the public, even though his work seemed to be far from the mainstream. His powers of invention spanned more than 80 years. He became the very prototype of the modern artist as public figure.  

There remains a profound sense of mystery in his work. Of all the images created by the artist Paul Gauguin, none was more striking than the one he crafted of himself. It’s often said that he painted and dreamed at the same time. 

   

Kandinsky is considered to be the father of abstract art. As a skilled musician he strongly associated music with art. Naming works after musical terms, he saw color when he listened to music explained by the fact that “each color lives by a mysterious life” 

His body of work and his reach to things we know and love is unparalleled. Schreckengost, a Clevelander, is often referred to as the 'American DaVinci' - a reference to the caliber, breadth and depth of his talents and contributions. 

 As one of the first female painters to achieve worldwide acclaim from critics and the general public, she created innovative images that challenged perceptions, and evolved constantly throughout her career. She stayed true to her own vision which was based on finding the essential, abstract forms in nature.

The Surrealist is known as the flamboyant Spanish painter famous for putting his dreams and hallucinations into unforgettable images. His provocations and eccentric personality made him an art star, and unforgettable.

 His artistic vision emerged as the golden thread linking every facet of his varied career. His artwork became the platform from which he delivered children‘s books, political cartoons, and hundreds of advertisements filled with wonderfully inventive animals, imaginative characters and  clever humor.