Jan Vermeer
Dutch
With Rembrandt and Frans Hals, Vermeer ranks among the most admired of all Dutch artists, but he was much less well known in his own day and remained relatively obscure until the end of the nineteenth century. The main reason for this is that he produced a small number of pictures, perhaps about forty-five (of which thirty-six are known today), primarily for a small circle of patrons in Delft.... His compositions are mostly invented and exhibit the most discriminating formal relationships, including those of color. In addition, Vermeer’s application of paint reveals extraordinary technical ability and time-consuming care.
- The Met's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
- Beat Veronese easily in Round 1.
- Vanquished Maria Elena Vieira da Silva in Round 2.
- Trounced Félix Vallotton in Round 3.
- Beat Turner in Round 4 by a single vote. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!
- Got past Jan Steen in Round 5.
Michelangelo
Italian
Michelangelo, in full Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, [was a] Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and poet who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art. Michelangelo was considered the greatest living artist in his lifetime, and ever since then he has been held to be one of the greatest artists of all time. A number of his works in painting, sculpture, and architecture rank among the most famous in existence.
- the Britannica
- Beat Sir John Everett Millais by a single vote in Round 1. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!
- Beat Spanish painter Joan Miró in Round 2.
- Tied with Gabriel Metsu in his first try at Round 3. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!
- Overcame Velázquez in a second try at Round 3.
- Beat Andrew Wyeth in the final match of Round 4, by a single vote. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!
- Beat art-history outsider M.C. Escher in Round 5... by a single vote! YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!
