Arty Farty Happy Friday

Tomorrow will be NATIONAL HAPPINESS HAPPENS DAY – August 8. Founded in 1999 by the Secret Society of Happy People as “Admit You’re Happy Day”, Happiness Happens Day is celebrated each year on August 8.

"The society encourages members to recognize their happy moments and think about happiness in their daily life. They have two motto’s which include; “Happiness Happens” and “Don’t Even Think of Raining on My Parade”. Their main purpose is to stimulate people’s right to express their happiness."

For today, then, a handful of paintings from different eras, plus one photograph, depicting a variety of happy situations. (Click on images for larger or clearer versions).

16th century

Allegory of Happiness (1564) by Agnolo Bronzino of Florence, Italy, known as Il Bronzino. He eventually became court painter to the powerful Medici family of Florence and gained notoriety for his portraiture, and "mannerist" style.

18th century

Jean-Honoré Fragonard, "The Swing", aka " “The happy accidents of the swing” " (c. 1767) French, from the rococo period.

20th century

The Homecoming by Norman Rockwell. Cover illustration for “The Saturday Evening Post,” May 26, 1945.

Dining Out (1985) by Beryl Cook, one of Britain's best-loved painters of the 20th century. My old, 2007, post about her is HERE, and a nice Daily Mail piece at the time of her death HERE.

Photograph from this website: Soulful Photos that Depict Happiness

Last, and far from least, Michael Jurogue Johnson's painting of some friends who make human lives so much happier every day.
(See website HERE)