Artwork – The bow and the brush

Claude Monet (French, 1840-1926)

Water Lilies
Oil on canvas, c1914-1917
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Commissioned by Julie Kim, Dan Flanagan composed Water Lilies (String Quartet #3), inspired by this painting, premiered at Hertz Hall in Berkeley on February 5th, 2025.

Rufino Tamayo (Mexican, 1899-1991)

Laughing Woman
Oil on canvas, 1950

Dan Flanagan composed Tamayo, a string trio inspired by this painting, premiered at Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. A string quartet version Tamayo (String Quartet #2) was then premiered at Hertz Hall in Berkeley on February 5th, 2025.

 

Nina Fabunmi (Nigerian- American)

In the Shallows
Oil on canvas, 2019

Linda Marcel composed Raven’s Dance, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

Jean-Jacques Henner (French, 1829-1905)

La Vérité
Oil on canvas, c. 1899-1902

Musée Jean-Jacques Henner, Paris

Dan Flanagan composed Nue aux Cheveux Roux: Hommage á Henner, a violin/piano piece inspired by all of Henner’s works. This painting is an example of those works. It was premiered at Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley, November 20th, 2019. A revised version was premiered at Musée Jean-Jacques Henner, Paris, on February 18th, 2023.

Paul Gibson (American, b. 1957)

Dan Flanagan #2
Mixed media on gator board, 2019
(acrylic, collage, graphite, brass screws)

Shinji Eshima composed The Collection, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

Victoria Veedell (American)

Into the Light
Oil on canvas, 2020

Cindy Cox composed Into the Light, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

 

Camille Pissarro (Danish-French, 1830-1903)

Homme au chapeau 
Pencil on paper, c. 1875

Dan Flanagan composed Hymn, a solo violin piece inspired by this drawing. It was premiered at Stern Pissarro Gallery, London, on February 16th, 2023.

 

Susan Bostrom-Wong (American)

Stepping Out
Oil on canvas, 2009

Jacques Desjardins composed Émergence, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

 

Elaine Pratt (american, b. 1958)

Island
Oil on canvas, 2019

Maiya Hynninen composed Island, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

 

Sean O'Donnell (American)

Allegro non trollop
Sculpture from a cello, 2020

Evan Price composed Blue Swan, a solo violin piece inspired by this sculpture, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

Albert-Marie Lebourg (French, 1849-1928)

Bords de la Seine devant Notre Dame
Oil on canvas

Trevor Weston composed Notre Dame au milieu de l’eau et du ciel, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Hertz Hall, Berkeley, March 5th, 2023.

 

Rachel Dwan (American)

Shadow Breaking
Oil on canvas, 2020

Nathaniel Stookey composed Shadow Breaking, a solo violin piece, inspired by this painting, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

Jean-Baptiste Armand Guillaumin (French, 1841-1927)

Cour de Ferme, Breuillet
Pastel on paper, 1888

James Stephenson composed Guillaumin, a solo violin piece inspired by this pastel, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

Jean-François Raffaëlli (french, 1850-1924)

Une rue animée à l’automne
Oil on canvas, 1896

Dan Flanagan composed An Animated Street in Autumn, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting. Premiered in a live-streamed recital for the Modesto Symphony on August 26th, 2020. The in-person premiere was at a Berkeley Symphony Chamber Concert at Piedmont Center for the Arts on April 10th, 2022.

Peter Canty (American)

untitled
Oil on canvas

Peter Josheff composed Same Old Sadness, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

Ludovic-Rodo Pissarro (French, 1878-1952)

Le grand écart
Pastel on paper

Edmund Campion composed Le Grand Écart (the Splits), a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

albert malet (french, 1912-1986)

Path in winter, sunset
Oil on panel

Jessica Mays composed And miles to go…, a solo violin piece, inspired by this painting, premiered at Hertz Hall, Berkeley, on March 5th, 2023.

 

John Campion (American)

what music the stops allow
Mixed media and poetry on paper, 

Cindy Cox composed what music the stops allow, for string trio inspired by this work. It was composed for Trio Solano with a grant from InterMusicSF and premiered at Piedmont Center for the Arts on November 30th, 2024.

Rebecca Fox (American)

Ethereal Explorations 2
Steel wall sculpture, 2014

Dan Flanagan composed Ethereal Explorations, a solo violin piece inspired by this sculpture, commissioned by Hunters Point Shipyard Artists and premiered at Shipyard Gallery on February 2nd, 2023.

Nikki Vismara (American, b. 1980)

SFHP (IV)
Acrylic on canvas, 2019

Libby Larsen composed a The Only Way Through is Slow, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

Robert Antoine Pinchon (French, 1886-1943)

Bruxelles, pluie sur la Grand-Place
Oil on canvas, 1928

Jose Gonzalez Granero composed Cadenza II, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

Salvador Dali (Spanish, 1871-1961)

The Persistence of Memory
Oil on canvas, 1931

Museum of Modern Art, New York

Riccardo Santoboni composed Sol-o, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting.

Cynthia Alvarez (American, b. 1979)

Gato
Acrylic and gouache on paper on canvas, 2019

Dan Flanagan composed LeGato au Chocolat, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Carnegie Hall on March 25th, 2024.

Paul Cézanne (French, 1839-1906)

Forrest Interior
Oil on canvas, c.1898-1899

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Allen Shearer composed Forrest Scene, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting.

Jean-Louis Forain (French, 1852-1931)

Couple au lit
Oil on canvas

David Mecionis composed Couple au lit, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

George Manzana-Pissarro (French, 1871-1961)

Bord d’étang
Pastel on paper

Michael Panther composed Pastel Lake, a solo violin piece inspired by this drawing, premiered at Stern Pissarro Gallery, London, on February 16th, 2023.

Claude Monet (French, 1840-1926)

The Magpie
Oil on canvas, 1868-1869

Musée D’Orsay, Paris

Dan Flanagan composed The Magpie (String Quartet #1), inspired by this painting, premiered by the Cecilia Quartet at Sonic Harvest, Berkeley, on October 6th, 2024.

Georgia O'keefe (american, 1887-1986)

Ram’s Head, Blue Morning Glory
Oil on canvas, 1938

Georgia O’Keefe Museum, Santa Fe

Urusula Kwong-Brown is composing a violin/piano piece inspired by this painting.

Paul Gibson (American, b. 1957)

AB White
Oil on canvas, 2010

Michael Panther composed Oil on Canvas, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

Beth Davila Waldman (American)

Inevitible Entails series
Mixed media (photo transfer and acrylic), 2019

Dan Flanagan composed Inevitable Entails, a violin/cello duet, inspired by these paintings, premiered at Herbst SF Music Day on March 20th, 2022.

Paulémile Pissarro (French, 1884-1972)

La maison du garde- forêt Normande
Oil on board, circa 1970

Catherine Neville composed Idyll, a solo violin piece inspired by this painting, premiered at Stern Pissarro Gallery, London, on February 16th, 2023.

 

Carrington Arredondo (American, b. 1953)

Grafica Primitiva
Mixed media collage on canvas, 2016

Emily Onderdonk composed Arredondo, a solo violin piece and a string trio inspired by this collage.  The solo piece was premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

Joaquin Turner (American)

Monterey Sentinels
Oil on board, 2021

Dan Flanagan composed Monterey Sentinels, a solo violin piece, inspired by this painting, premiered at Opera America’s National Opera Center in New York City on October 3rd, 2022.

Sean O'Donnell (American)

Seduced by Syncopation
Sculpture series made from metronomes, 2021

Dan Flanagan composed “Timeless,” Rhapsody in Discomfort #6, a solo violin piece inspired by these sculptures, premiered at Hertz Hall, Berkeley, on March 5th, 2023.

 

Jennifer Perlmutter (American)

Cattails on the Waterfront
Oil on canvas

Dan Flanagan composed Perlmutter, a solo violin piece, inspired by this painting, commissioned by Gold Coast Chamber Players and premiered at Perlmutter Gallery​ on December 4th, 2021

Etienne Rolin (American-French)

Synapsis
Acrylic on canvas

Etienne Rolin composed Synaptic Sonata, a solo violin piece inspired by his own acrylic painting. The first movement was premiered at L’Impromptu, Bordeaux, on March 30th, 2024.

PAUL GIBSON (AMERICAN, B. 1957)

Dan Flanagan #1
Charcoal on paper, 2019

Eric Schwartz composed placed into abyss, a multi-track solo violin piece inspired by this drawing. It was premiered with 4 acoustic violins at Oakland Sound on March 26, 2023, then premiered with solo violin and tape at Accademia Filarmonica Romana, Rome, on July 4th, 2024.

Henri Fantin-Latour (French, 1836-1904)

Danses
Lithograph on paper, 1898

Catherine Neville composed Danses, a solo violin piece inspired by this lithograph. Premiered in a live-streamed recital for the Modesto Symphony on August 26th, 2020. The in-person premiere was at a Berkeley Symphony Chamber Concert at Piedmont Center for the Arts on April 10th, 2022.