North American Art

Ed Wheeler’s Santa Classics: Santa Claus and Masterpieces

Zuzanna Stańska 5 December 2023 min Read

Photographer Ed Wheeler has been dressing up as Santa Claus for years and posing in hilarious compositions. He started over  20 years ago with yearly client Christmas mailers portraying him dressed up while doing non-Santa-like activities – driving a sports car, spray painting a wall, or getting a tattoo. It was in 2011, though, when the festive photographer decided to take his work a step further and incorporate Santa Claus into classical masterpieces like Botticelli’s famed The Birth of Venus.

According to the artist, his re-imaginings, known as Santa Classics, “pay homage to the original paintings while offering art lovers an additional reason to smile.”

Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli

Ed Wheeler birth of venus

Click here to read all you need to know about Sandro Botticelli.

At the Moulin Rouge, The Dance by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

ed wheeler lautrec

Click here to see another masterpiece by Toulouse-Lautrec, Divan Japonais!

Supper at Emmaus by Caravaggio

ed wheeler caravaggio

Click here to read about the mysterious circumstances of Caravaggio’s death!

The Art of Painting by Johannes Vermeer

ed wheeler vermeer

Read here to read about 5 facts you didn’t know about Johannes Vermeer.

Luncheon on the Grass by Edouard Manet

ed wheeler, manet

Click here to see 10 best portraits by Edouard Manet :).

Bridge over the Pond of Lilies by Claude Monet

Ed wheeler, monet

Did you know that Claude Monet was a caricaturist? Click here to see his caricatures!

Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci

ed wheeler da vinci

Here are 11 facts about Leonardo da Vinci that you probably didn’t know!

The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo

ed wheeler michelangelo

Here are some interesting facts about Michelangelo that you should know!

Happy holidays, Everyone! 

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