By René Quillivic (1879–1969), French artist & sculptor notable for his depictions of Breton culture.

'Prince in a Garden Courtyard', 1525-30; Attributed to Tabriz, Iran

This typical bazm (feast) scene is the left-hand side of a double page painting. Traditionally, the right half would have shown royal servants preparing a feast. The prince is seated on a square platform under a…

'The Story of Lucretia', Sandro Botticelli (c. 1445 – May 17, 1510), Italian

The Pleiades united with Venus & the Moon to nurse you rose-flavoured, cardamom milk spiced. The Zohra gave her red, the Moon her white & the Seven Sisters spread them across the sky. The muted Red Grace fell down upon the child that wept.

'Extreme civilization robs crime of its frightful poetry, and prevents the writer from restoring it. That would be too dreadful, say those good souls who want everything to be prettified, even the horrible. In the name of philanthropy, imbecile criminologists reduce the…

“The Odalisques”, Jacqueline Marval
(19 October 1866 – 28 May 1932), French

Sentimentality must be deserved. Life must have shown its cruelty & indifference in full potency to anyone who wishes to indulge it. It is only justified by a sorrow, without the sorrow, it is too saccharine, infantile, stupid, deluded, without tenderness.

If I never meet you in this life, let me feel the lack; a glance from your eyes, and my life will be yours. Why should I be afraid to die? I belong to you. If I go first, I'll wait for you there, on the other side of the dark waters.

'The Haloes', Louis Welden Hawkins (1849–1910), French

Emanuel Ungaro Ad (Vogue 1985). Photo by Deborah Turbeville

'There were never strawberries
like the ones we had
that sultry afternoon
sitting on the step
of the open french window
facing each other
your knees held in mine
the blue plates in our laps
the strawberries glistening
in the hot sunlight
we dipped them in sugar
looking at each…

Juan Manuel Fernandez Montoya (15 August 1982), a Flamenco dancer & choreographer

'Sleeping Venus', Ferenc Helbing (25 December 1870 – 28 January 1958), Hungarian