David Ligare (b.1945), American contemporary realist artist, paints in a neo-classical style.
"...my paintings have always been about light - about sunlight. Really and truly - we talked about style - my style is sunlight.
...sunlight has always been a symbol of radical knowledge. In his famous allegory about the cave, Plato calls the sun "the guardian of everything in the visible world." I've painted candles several times and each time I've been reminded of the contrast between the fire-lit illusions in Plato's cave and how they, as well as my burning candles, are surpassed by the clear sunlight of the upper world. Diffused light, say, from a window or an electric light has a conditional aspect to it. Sunlight is specific. But the larger meaning of the allegory is that we see what we know. For me, sunlight - especially late afternoon sunlight - is simply the most beautiful source of illumination. That period of liminal time, just before sunset, has long been called the "the golden hour" for its beauty as well as its metaphorical richness." (from the artist's interview)
the artist's site