My two absolutely two favorite portraits in the world are by Franz Von Stuck.
One is Lucifer and the other is The Sin.
I suppose they appeal to me because they are both a little spooky, a little wicked and very beautiful.
Now I have a third painting to add to my list and I saw it on a show about Chocolate off all things.
The show went through a brief history of chocolate- how it started out as the choice sweet of the the elite, the rich and the amorous. The episode ends with the host preparing a chocolate souffle in his kitchen for his wife and daughter.
The portrait ( among other examples of chocolate in artwork )showed a noblewoman who is dressed as a monk and sitting in front of her his a cup of hot chocolate.
The message in the painting shows the subject’s striking balance between the divine and earthly desires.
The entire portrait tickled my fancy and as soon as I find a decent print, I’m going to have it framed and it will hang in my living room with Lucifer and The Sin.
Brilliant.

Portrait Of Louise Anne De Bourbon Conde ,
Word of The Day Challenge: Brilliant