Artists all throughout history share more things in common than you might realize. Whether it be the iconic painters of yesterday or our modern musicians of today, there are many threads and similarities that bind them all together. However, one thread that is often overlooked is the fact that many of them never married.
Artists are unique people in the sense that many of them operate on a different level than the rest of society. In other words, the artist's ultimate role is to reside in the realm of the imagination and return with something of substance that will inspire and uplift civilization toward greater heights.
Now, there are many factors involved when it comes to a big decision like marriage. Some single artists have tried to pinpoint it down to a singular reason, like an artist's eccentric personality or sexual orientation. However, as you will discover in this article, like everything in life, the truth is far more complex and far more interesting.
Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo Da Vinci is arguably the most well-known case of a famous single artist that never married. It has been said about Da Vinci that there is no other artist in history whose art has been studied, scrutinized, or debated more than his, and this is also true regarding the Italian master's private life.
For all the gossip and speculation, there is very little detail about Da Vinci's actual private life. Although Da Vinci was undeniably obsessed with the idea of beauty and perfect symmetry, by all accounts, he never developed a public relationship with a person that could be equated to anything resembling love.
As a result of this ambiguity, there has been a cascade of speculation and accusations thrown toward Da Vinci regarding his sexual orientation. Still, again this has never been proven one way or the other. The only real proof that lends itself to this theory is the level of eroticism and androgyny found in some of the male characters in Da Vinci's paintings.
Many people mistakenly think that Mona Lisa was Da Vinci's wife because the two are so closely linked to each other. However, this isn’t the reality. Mona Lisa was merely the wife of a wealthy nobleman who commissioned Leonardo to paint a portrait of her. For Da Vinci, it was little more than a paying job, and he could have never guessed that it would become one of the most famous portrait paintings of all time.
Perhaps the truth is simply that Da Vinci was such a genius that he didn't concern himself with normal human affairs and was married to his work instead. This is perhaps the most plausible outcome simply due to the sheer volume of artwork and inventions Da Vinci created during his lifetime. His only committed relationship was with art, and his only offspring was his superb paintings and the legacy they left behind.
Edvard Munch
When looking at Norwegian Expressionist painter Edvard Munch's artwork, it is easy to see why it might have been difficult for him to maintain a normal relationship. Munch's paintings are a psychological exploration of the deepest, darkest recesses of the human mind. Munch strenuously studied those dark places inside ourselves that most of us wish to avoid.1st Art Gallery is one of the oil painting reproduction stores where you can find his masterpieces.
Munch's childhood was a troubled one from the start and was filled with illness, death, religious indoctrination, and the slow onset of mental disorder in his family. These factors all contributed to both Munch being diagnosed as insane yet also to his artistic genius.
It was through art and painting that Edvard Munch's life was saved. Starting during his adolescence, when Munch was often too sick to attend school, he instead spent most of his time drawing. Munch quickly found that art was a sustainable and therapeutic way to cope with his mental and emotional problems.
As the Expressionist painter was too mentally unstable to pursue intimate relationships such as marriage, although he did consider it for a time, Munch instead devoted himself to his artwork resulting in some of the most disturbingly emotional and deeply psychological paintings ever seen.
His paintings, such as The Scream and Melancholy, can be seen as both outward expressions of his inner being and an embodiment of the mass anxiety felt in our modern society. Like many single artists, Munch's emotional instability fueled his artwork and reminded us that artists are, in most cases, very different than so-called normal people.
Sandro Botticelli
Italian Early Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli's life and legacy are filled with many ups and downs. He is best known for his iconic painting, The Birth of Venus, which is recognized worldwide. Botticelli also painted many other exquisitely brilliant mythological and Christian paintings and was even commissioned to produce artwork for the Sistine Chapel, many of which still remain there today.
Although Botticelli is undoubtedly one of the greatest painters to ever live, his work and legacy are often overshadowed by the generation of painters who came after him. When discussing the murals of the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo's name is the one that comes to mind, and when listing the greatest painters of the Renaissance, his name is often forgotten.
Botticelli is another example of a famous and unmarried artist. All indications are that his personal life was rather humdrum. There was a custom in Florence at the time for arranged marriages with the family of the bride offering a dowry to the husband, but despite this, Botticelli had no interest in marriage and openly expressed a dislike for the custom.
There is even a funny story where Botticelli is said to have had a nightmare about being married and was so disturbed by the dream that he spent the rest of the night walking the streets of Florence instead of returning to sleep. So Sandro Botticelli is another example of an artist choosing to be married to his work and being part of the "never get married" list of famous painters.
This disapproval of marriage and reluctance to marry led to much speculation and gossip about his private life. Like Da Vinci, Botticelli was also subject to rumors about his sexuality, and however, just like Da Vinci, there is no hard evidence for this one way or the other.
These accusations could also be seen as little more than attempts to slander and diminish a person's reputation and achievements. Historians have stated that Botticelli may have had a brief affair with Simonetta Vespucci, while others have pointed out homo-erotic elements in his art; however, just like Botticelli's art, his private life is also open to interpretation.
Isaac Levitan
Russian landscape painter Isaak Levitan is another interesting figure to consider when discussing the "never get married" list of famous painters. His landscape paintings are some of the most beautiful of their kind, and if you have never seen them, you should definitely check them out. Levitan's paintings are not quite Impressionist and not quite Realist but instead fall somewhere in the middle.
Levitan is known for his great landscape paintings, which attempt to embody the mood and emotion contained within a scene rather than simply just depicting it realistically. The Russian painter was a master at conveying these sometimes-heavy moods and emotions, which have been said to be a parallel of his life.
Levitan grew up in an impoverished family in a small town in what is now known as modern-day Lithuania. It wasn't until the age of thirteen, three years after he and his family moved to Moscow, Russia, that he began studying painting at the Moscow school of painting. Levitan was lucky in the fact that he had some tremendously talented teachers to study under.
However, during his studies, Levitan's mother died. This tragedy left a lasting impression on the painter, and there is a mood of sadness and melancholy to be found in much of his work, especially his earlier paintings. Nevertheless, these incredibly moving landscape paintings soon brought attention and respect to Levitan's skill as a painter. He would become one of the finest landscape painters Russia ever produced.
In regards to his love life, it is also a rather melancholic tale. He is one of the single artists and didn't father any children. However, he did have a somewhat public affair with a married woman and fellow painter, Sofia Kuvshinnikova. The relationship ended poorly and became the subject of a theater play called the Grasshopper.
Other than this, there is no other record of Levitan's romantic affairs. He died alone, with his only legacy being his collection of paintings. Both his story and his artwork are a reminder of just how lonely and forlorn life can sometimes be.
Raphael
Raffaello Sanzio de Urbino, or simply Raphael as he is more commonly known, was another famous Italian Renaissance painter who stayed a single artist. He is regarded as one of the three Italian Renaissance masters alongside Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Raphael is best known for his Ancient Greek-themed and gripping religious narrative paintings.
Raphael is different from many single artists for many reasons. For one, he was widely considered one of the best artists of his generation while he was still alive, whereas many painters didn't achieve success until long after their death. He also enjoyed the advantage of being born into a financially stable family at a time when artists were held in the highest of esteem by society.
Raphael was bred into the life of an artist as his father was also a painter. He inherited his workshop at a young age after his father's death and continued on the family business, so to speak. As a result, Raphael would go on to produce some of the most highly regarded artwork of the time and successfully cemented his legacy in history as one of the greats.
When it came to relationships, Raphael was also successful and enjoyed many romantic affairs. In the time and location in which he lived, he could be compared to a Romeo character. For example, he was married to one Maria Bibbiena, a Cardinal's daughter. Still, by all accounts, Raphael was reluctant to marry her and wasn't overly enthusiastic about the whole situation.
In his heart, he loved another, a woman of poor birth named Margarita Luti. Raphael dedicated several paintings to her beauty, including his famous painting known as La Fornarina. But, just like in Romeo and Juliet, tragedy would strike, and Raphael died on his 37th birthday before being able to marry either woman.
The cause of his death is not fully known, but many theories have been put forth, ranging from infectious disease to a broken heart. His funeral was a grand public spectacle and a fitting send-off and tribute to this prolific and much-loved painter.
Conclusion
When asking the question of why some famous painters and people throughout history never married, there is no straightforward answer. Human beings, particularly artists, are fascinating creatures, and although they may share many similarities, no two are entirely the same. It is like the old saying goes, "It would be boring if we were all alike". Find more replicas by visiting 1st Art Gallery.