I have done an ink and watercolour sketch based on Angelica Kauffman's 'The Artist hesitating between the arts of Music and Painting', from 1791 or 1794, which was in turn based on the Judgement of Hercules by Simon Gribelin, where Hercules has to choose between virtue and vice. 
I have always had Art and Music in my life. I was captivated by this painting, done by an 18th century woman, when I saw it in the National Portrait Gallery last week. It was part of the Brilliant Woman exhibition (http://www.npg.org.uk/live/wobrilliantwomen.asp).
Angelica Kauffmann (1741-1807), Painter
The Swiss-born Angelica Kauffmann was an artist of international training and reputation. She was escorted by her artist-father to study the Old Masters in all the major Italian cities. Time spent with the English community in Rome convinced her to come to London in 1766 where she joined Sir Joshua Reynolds's social circle. Her reputation for portraiture and history painting led to her becoming a founder member of the Royal Academy in 1768. Excluded from the life class, Kauffmann developed her own brand of history painting which focused on female subjects from classical history and mythology. (NPG website) I wanted to make a modern version of this painting. Though not convinced that watercolour is the best medium for this, I have had quite a startling response from people I have shown this to. So here it is, my 21st century version of 'The Artist hesitating between the arts of Music and Painting.' 
Update: April 2009: I have finally added to this my own large oil version. Not as large as Kauffman's original mine is 3 by 5 feet. It has quite a few imperfections, but as I said to some friends in an email, if they wanted a photograph they would commission a photographer. 
Kauffmann herself was influenced by another painting, the Judgement of Hercules by Simon Gribelin: 
It was through a meeting with a priest that Kanuffmann finally decided that art was the more spiritual, if more difficult path. In my painting I have reversed the sides, with Music pointing to tranquil countryside (or a storm brewing.. depending on how you look at it) and Art in an architectural context. The snake on the arm represents the Asclepius staff, more than the serpent. I'll let you draw your own conclusions there. Ditto to the rabbit. The skull could be a memento mori. Again, it has a hole drilled into it for a reason. Don't think too hard. The rabbit's model, sadly, passed away during the painting of this picture. RIP. Quail Eggs, champagne, bicycles, sportscars, amputees and a guy who swears he doesn't know me peering out of the darkness.. well.. if Kaufmann painted about viture and vice, my painting is only about vice. | 
