Artists/Craftpersons

 (1898 - 1976)  Aalto was a painter, sculptor, designer and Finnish architect.  His wife, Aino Marsio, was his main collaborator until she died in 1949.  One of their major collaborations was the Artek furniture whose techniques of jointing, bending and novel graceful lines eventually gained popularity and had a big impact on future furniture design. Between the years of 1927 and 1954 Aalto took part in experiments to create free abstract sculptures and abstract reliefs made out of laminated wood which later served as inspiration for his architecture work.  He is known in particular for his memorial for the Battle of Suomussalmi.  Aalto is also known for his influence in promoting modern art. 

 (1731 - 1809) Dirck van der Aa was one of the most known persons from a family of Dutch painters from The Hague.  He specialized in grisaille decorative panels for the interior of buildings.  

 (1852 - 1911) Abbey was a successful American book illustrator, etcher, and painter.  He is known for his historical scenes and murals such as his commission piece, "The Quest of the Holy Grail" and another of his commission pieces made in honor of Edward VII's coronation in 1902.  He also worked for Harper's Weekly from 1870 until he died.  His book illustrations were especially well-liked.   

 (1760 - 1802) Abbot was a painter from England.  Many of his customers were naval officers.  His portrayals of Lord Nelson are the most-known of his art.  Tragically, in 1798 he went crazy and was unable to finish his work; it was eventually finished by other artists.  

 (1552 -1615) Hans was a German painter who primarily painted in the Netherlands, Italy and especially Prague where he eventulaly lived in 1596.  There, he worked under the emperor Rudolf II as a court painter and later for the emperor Matthias.  His artwork contained long, elegant figures and he was noted for his playful nudes.  He influenced engravings being made from his artwork and became a well-known artist from his time period.  

Abakanowicz is a Polish sculptor who has made breakthroughs in creating sculptures created from woven fabrics.  Work from her efforts have been imitated both in the United States and in Europe.  

 Abbate (1510 - 1571) was an Italian painter trained in Modena and in Bologna.  He was influenced by Correggio and Parmigianino.  Abbate worked to decorate palaces with his elegant style.  He is particularly known for his landscapes from mythological stories, becoming a precursor of sorts to Poussin and Claude.  

 (1894 - 1966) After the years following the declaration of independence from Russia in 1917, Aaltonen became the icon of the patriotic spirit of Finland.  He was a sculptor who is known especially for his bronze monument to the runner Paavo Nurmi and for his bust of the musical composer, Sibelius.