Masterpiece Story: The Monkey Painter by Jean-Baptiste Chardin
It’s tacky! It’s funny! It’s weird! Yes, Jean-Baptiste Chardin’s The Monkey Painter is definitely not what you would consider in good taste.
James W Singer 29 January 2024
Animals
Hieronymus Bosch’s Creepy Owls
Hieronymus Bosch was an Early Netherlandish painter. He must have lived in two worlds simultaneously – the real one and a world of his...
Zuzanna Stańska 29 January 2024
Here Be Medieval Dragons
Dragons are everywhere in popular culture. People make movies about them, collect stuffed animals of them, and dress up as them for Halloween. They...
Alexandra Kiely 16 January 2024
Owls, Peacocks and Sparrows: Birds in Art
The idea of birds in art probably brings to mind John James Audubon, the 19th-century ornithologist who wrote and illustrated the landmark series The...
Alexandra Kiely 5 January 2024
A Lesson in Illustration – The Whimsical Characters of Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter, best known for the charming tale of Peter Rabbit, inspired the minds of budding young novelists and illustrators alike. Her most...
Tony Heathfield 3 January 2024
Masterpiece Story: Magpie by Claude Monet
Magpie is a masterpiece by Claude Monet that captures the poetic play of light upon a winter landscape. It is a symphony of ivory and...
James W Singer 22 December 2023
Practical, Erotic and Magical: The Miniature World of Netsuke
Originating in 17th-century Japan during the Edo Period, Netsuke (pronounced nets-keh) are toggles that attach pouches to the traditional robes,...
Nadine Waldmann 16 December 2023
Masterpiece Story: Striding Lion from the Ishtar Gate
Striding Lion is a masterpiece of Mesopotamian art with monumental size and composition. It symbolizes the strength of King Nebuchadnezzar II and the...
James W Singer 5 December 2023
Masterpiece Story: Napoleon Crossing the Alps by Jacques-Louis David
Jacques-Louis David’s Napoleon Crossing the Alps is one of the most famous and politically iconic images of European art history. However, it is a...
James W Singer 4 December 2023
Five Fun Facts About Gargoyles – Quirky Creatures of the Middle Ages and Beyond
Everybody loves gargoyles! I used to think I was alone in this, but I’ve come to learn that’s not at all true. In case any of you don’t know, a...
Alexandra Kiely 1 December 2023
Human Machines, Pigs & Gothic Trucks: Wim Delvoye’s Surprising Art
Have you ever seen a pig covered in an oriental carpet, a cement truck with Gothic motifs, or a silver DNA string with crucifixes? These are the...
Michel Rutten 27 November 2023
Inflating Art: Special Balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade holds as much tradition in America as football, turkey and stuffing itself. Over the past 9 decades, it has only...
Rachel Witte 22 November 2023
