The Joker by Bellei Painting by Paul Meijering

Realistic acrylic painting of the Italian painter Gaetano Bellei featuring his painting The Joker, all painted by the Dutch fine artist Paul Meijering - the original painting i s 90 x 120 cm and part of a permanent collection.

Gaetano Bellei (Milan, 22 January 1857 - there, 20 March 1922) was an Italian painter. He is best known for his genre scenes, portraits, works on religious subjects.

Gaetano Bellei was born into the family of Lorenzo and Vienna Molinari. After completing his art training at the Academy of Fine Arts in Modena, under the direction of Adeodato Malatesta, he moved to Rome, where he studied at the Accademia di San Luca, and then at the French and Spanish academies.

In 1883, Bellei went to Florence for a year, where he completed his studies with the scholarship he had received for artists. There, thanks to his ability to work in different genres, he became friends with collectors, merchants and patrons of English origin, who commissioned him for different types of work. During this period, Bellei met Gaetano Chierici. He died in Modena in 1922.

Created by Paul Meijering.

This artwork is offered by Paul Meijering

For almost 33 years now, Paul Meijering has been active with the paint brushes. As a 17- year old inspired youngster he joined the Academy of Arts in Enschede (Holland) in order to receive a native training in drawing- and painting technique.

At that time (1980) the tendency of the abstract was running riot, and to his dismay and disappointment Paul found that the trade of the ancient masters was merely 'old hat', the realistic art being disregarded and looked down upon. After two years of useless botchery, there was only one conclusion to draw: 'get autodidact, be a self-taught person!' Paul then left the academy to work for a living, but at the back of his mind there always loomed the passion of his life: to paint. At his spare time he painted and his efforts are characteristic as far as man plays an important role are concerned, or to put it in his own words: 'Each human being tinkers at his own existence, it is the source of inspiration to explain the non-verbal by way of painting'.

The paintings attracted attention at various exhibitions and he was frequently approached by trades-people, hotel-keepers, merchants. These customers were for the most part interested in large wall-paintings and decorations. In the year 2000 the painter develops a speciality that's quite unique: he applies himself to paint football pictures. After a year he gets the chance to realize an open exhibition for an indefinite time as well with the Dutch Fo

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