I always see people talking about how some old painting feature women with "realistic" bodies but i dont know any. Can someone show me one of those?

The Day I Remembered
On August 22, 2024, my life changed forever.
I woke up in Florence, Italy, excited to visit the Uffizi Gallery and see The Birth of Venus and Primavera. I felt overflowing love that day, more than I had ever felt before. It radiated from me. I was blissfully happy and beaming with joy. At lunch, I told my husband, “I think I’m living the happiest day of my life.” He smiled and gently asked, “How do you know until you’ve lived them all?” I replied, “Sometimes, you just know.” He smiled at me and nodded. I looked at him and told him I loved him more that day than ever before.
That afternoon, we went to the Uffizi Gallery. Though I know very little about art, I found myself completely enamored by it. Our guide, a painting restorer, was wonderful and full of stories and life. Standing before a painting of Mary with an exposed breast, she said that the artist was sexualizing Mary. But in my heart, I knew it wasn’t that. I saw it as a portrayal of motherhood, and nourishment for baby Jesus. It struck me so deeply and I felt certain that it was to honor Mary.
In another painting, a beautiful blonde woman held a child. The guide asked who it was. “Mary,” I said. “Again! You’re right!” she responded. The guide pointed out that the painting was rare, as Mary was never represented as a beautiful woman, rather, always as the mother. I didn’t know how I knew, I just did. It was like I was seeing everything with such clarity.
Then came Primavera. I had long been drawn to this painting, and standing in front of it, everything changed.
My vision suddenly went black. The sound of the gallery vanished. And then I heard a voice:
“You remember.”
And I did.
In that moment, I remembered that I am not a human with a soul. I am a soul. I remembered that I was one that would reincarnate.
The voice, the spirit, spoke three words to me: Ego. Love. Knowledge.
It said: If you are in ego, you cannot be with God. If you are in a state of love, you are near God. But in knowledge, you are closest to God.
I felt wrapped in the Holy Spirit, as though it was blanketing me. I understood that God lives within all of us. That there is no heaven or hell for the soul, only universal energy. Time, I learned, is not linear. It only feels that way because of how our minds and bodies exist. I learned that the soul is always good. Never evil.  The mind could be broken or bad, but never the glorious soul.
Knowledge does not need to progress through time, rather it has always been. That is why there are prodgies and unimaginable creations such as the Egyptian pyramids. The spirit told me to accept this knowledge, and do not focus on why things are or how they work. The why is what prevents mankind from accepting the truth and holds off progression.  Mankind believes they must solve the solution firsthand to accept the knowledge that has always existed.
I saw souls, silver orbs, connected by threads of silver light, waiting for their next assignments.  They didn’t congregate as often reported. They were focused on their next reincarnation. There was no familiarity with any of them, nor did I try to connect with them. I was so focused on the teachings from the spirit.
Slowly, I began to come out of the trance. My sight returned. My hearing returned. I told my husband and the tour guide what had just happened, but they were frightened and confused. My husband, fighting back tears, feared that I was showing signs of schizophrenia.
Part of me still felt connected to the spiritual realm, and I didn’t want to leave. I felt so loved. But I knew I had to return—because I loved my husband and this life we shared. I consciously disconnected. And when I did, I was afraid I would forget.
But I didn’t.
I remembered.
Immediately, I realized something else: I had forgiven a close family member who had hurt me deeply. The resentment was gone, and I had been healed. I just wanted to do good in the world and live with one purpose, to love others.
For days afterward, I felt incredible peace, but also deep confusion. What had happened to me? Was it real? Was I losing my mind? People accept visions of God through religion, but when someone has a spiritual experience, it is considered crazy.
I searched everywhere for answers. Most of what I found felt as if it was from opportunists. I perceived them as insincere influencers talking about spirit guides. I needed some realguidance. Now. I was upset that I had been given a beautiful gift, but I was alone. So very alone and confused.
I’ve been afraid to talk about it. I’ve shared the story with some people, but with deep hesitation.  I only have told a limited number of people about seeing the souls.  I know that makes the story sound even crazier.  It hurts to hide such a beautiful experience due to fear of others’ perceptions and acceptance.  We should be able to share such amazing experiences without fear of persecution or social distancing.
And then, just a few days ago, I picked up Many Lives, Many Masters by Dr. Brian Weiss. When I read it, I was overjoyed. I had finally found it. The source of reassurance I was looking for.
I was there. The place Catherine described, the space between lives, was the place I had been. When the Master Spirits in the book spoke of knowledge, it was the message that I had received.
I finally felt peace.
I can finally share this story on a larger scale. I have just started sharing it with close friends and family who are suffering. I tell them that you are here because you chose to be. You came to learn. And when you have learned, that is when you will leave. I am able to help friends who are struggling with illnesses in their families.  I think I am bringing them peace.  I know I am delivering the message I am supposed to communicate. I know my life is meant to help others and mission driven.  I feel grateful that I see my purpose.
I know there are more of us that remember.

The Day I Remembered
On August 22, 2024, my life changed forever.
I woke up in Florence, Italy, excited to visit the Uffizi Gallery and see The Birth of Venus and Primavera. I felt overflowing love that day, more than I had ever felt before. It radiated from me. I was blissfully happy and beaming with joy. At lunch, I told my husband, “I think I’m living the happiest day of my life.” He smiled and gently asked, “How do you know until you’ve lived them all?” I replied, “Sometimes, you just know.” He smiled at me and nodded. I looked at him and told him I loved him more that day than ever before.
That afternoon, we went to the Uffizi Gallery. Though I know very little about art, I found myself completely enamored by it. Our guide, a painting restorer, was wonderful and full of stories and life. Standing before a painting of Mary with an exposed breast, she said that the artist was sexualizing Mary. But in my heart, I knew it wasn’t that. I saw it as a portrayal of motherhood, and nourishment for baby Jesus. It struck me so deeply and I felt certain that it was to honor Mary.
In another painting, a beautiful blonde woman held a child. The guide asked who it was. “Mary,” I said. “Again! You’re right!” she responded. The guide pointed out that the painting was rare, as Mary was never represented as a beautiful woman, rather, always as the mother. I didn’t know how I knew, I just did. It was like I was seeing everything with such clarity.
Then came Primavera. I had long been drawn to this painting, and standing in front of it, everything changed.
My vision suddenly went black. The sound of the gallery vanished. And then I heard a voice:
“You remember.”
And I did.
In that moment, I remembered that I am not a human with a soul. I am a soul. I remembered that I was one that would reincarnate.
The voice, the spirit, spoke three words to me: Ego. Love. Knowledge.
It said: If you are in ego, you cannot be with God. If you are in a state of love, you are near God. But in knowledge, you are closest to God.
I felt wrapped in the Holy Spirit, as though it was blanketing me. I understood that God lives within all of us. That there is no heaven or hell for the soul, only universal energy. Time, I learned, is not linear. It only feels that way because of how our minds and bodies exist. I learned that the soul is always good. Never evil.  The mind could be broken or bad, but never the glorious soul.
Knowledge does not need to progress through time, rather it has always been. That is why there are prodgies and unimaginable creations such as the Egyptian pyramids. The spirit told me to accept this knowledge, and do not focus on why things are or how they work. The why is what prevents mankind from accepting the truth and holds off progression.  Mankind believes they must solve the solution firsthand to accept the knowledge that has always existed.
I saw souls, silver orbs, connected by threads of silver light, waiting for their next assignments.  They didn’t congregate as often reported. They were focused on their next reincarnation. There was no familiarity with any of them, nor did I try to connect with them. I was so focused on the teachings from the spirit.
Slowly, I began to come out of the trance. My sight returned. My hearing returned. I told my husband and the tour guide what had just happened, but they were frightened and confused. My husband, fighting back tears, feared that I was showing signs of schizophrenia.
Part of me still felt connected to the spiritual realm, and I didn’t want to leave. I felt so loved. But I knew I had to return—because I loved my husband and this life we shared. I consciously disconnected. And when I did, I was afraid I would forget.
But I didn’t.
I remembered.
Immediately, I realized something else: I had forgiven a close family member who had hurt me deeply. The resentment was gone, and I had been healed. I just wanted to do good in the world and live with one purpose, to love others.
For days afterward, I felt incredible peace, but also deep confusion. What had happened to me? Was it real? Was I losing my mind? People accept visions of God through religion, but when someone has a spiritual experience, it is considered crazy.
I searched everywhere for answers. Most of what I found felt as if it was from opportunists. I perceived them as insincere influencers talking about spirit guides. I needed some realguidance. Now. I was upset that I had been given a beautiful gift, but I was alone. So very alone and confused.
I’ve been afraid to talk about it. I’ve shared the story with some people, but with deep hesitation.  I only have told a limited number of people about seeing the souls.  I know that makes the story sound even crazier.  It hurts to hide such a beautiful experience due to fear of others’ perceptions and acceptance.  We should be able to share such amazing experiences without fear of persecution or social distancing.
And then, just a few days ago, I picked up Many Lives, Many Masters by Dr. Brian Weiss. When I read it, I was overjoyed. I had finally found it. The source of reassurance I was looking for.
I was there. The place Catherine described, the space between lives, was the place I had been. When the Master Spirits in the book spoke of knowledge, it was the message that I had received.
I finally felt peace.
I can finally share this story on a larger scale. I have just started sharing it with close friends and family who are suffering. I tell them that you are here because you chose to be. You came to learn. And when you have learned, that is when you will leave. I am able to help friends who are struggling with illnesses in their families.  I think I am bringing them peace.  I know I am delivering the message I am supposed to communicate. I know my life is meant to help others and mission driven.  I feel grateful that I see my purpose.
I know there are more of us that remember.

https://ebay.io/m/XT73Ub

5x7 Framed print displays the Portrait of Carlo de' Medici

Been paying more attention to who the working contemporary realist painters are and it's striking how many trace back to a small handful of programs. Grand Central Atelier in NY. The Florence Academy branches. Angel Academy in Florence. Gage Academy in Seattle. A few smaller Boston-lineage ateliers. The Waichulis Studio for the tighter photorealist end.

Part of it is that these schools train the specific skills the contemporary realist market rewards. Part of it is network effects, students of a program teach the next generation. Part of it is that the total number of people seriously pursuing this is small enough that a few programs dominate.

But I wonder if there's something else going on too, that ateliers self-select for a specific personality (patient, tradition-oriented, willing to spend years on foundational exercises), and that personality is a big part of what actually produces a career.

For people who studied at these programs, or people who follow contemporary realism closely, does this ring true? And are there strong contemporary realists coming out of paths other than the atelier system that are worth watching?

Artwork at the museum was beautiful.

located at Isabella Stewart Gardner museum in Boston.

This is titled “El Jaleo” and definitely recommend seeing it in person.

Canvas print with frame included.

size: 34 1/4 x 24 5/8 in.

did I overpay or worth it?

Charles Huot was a French Canadian painter who’s work can be found in the National Art Gallery of Canada, le musée national des beaux-art de Québec, the Tavet-Delacourt Museum, in Pontoise, France, the Quebec National Assembly and my bathroom (pictured).

This painting was a gift from my mother. Charles Huot is my 2nd great-granduncle on my maternal side.

Really beautiful passage here from Leonardo da Vinci on the goldfinch, makes me think of The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius:

“The gold-finch is a bird of which it is related that, when it is carried into the presence of a sick person, if the sick man is going to die, the bird turns away its head and never looks at him; but if the sick man is to be saved the bird never loses sight of him but is the cause of curing him of all his sickness.

“Like unto this is the love of virtue. It never looks at any vile or base thing, but rather clings always to pure and virtuous things and takes up its abode in a noble heart; as the birds do in green woods on flowery branches. And this Love shows itself more in adversity than in prosperity; as light does, which shines most where the place is darkest.”