For students of the humanities…
This website presents a great variety of information on many subjects, including psychology, art, history, art history, etc. They've got a fairly comprehensive list of tags, and their search engine is very responsive. This is a great place to search for a topic or to do your initial research. link to The Collector
There are several old sayings about history and its tendency to repeat. This article deals with paintings that showcase disease. Historical ailments, and the art that commemorates them, seem a little more relevant now that we've seen the affects of the Coronavirus. link to Plague in Art: 10 Paintings You Should Know in the Times… Continue reading Article: Plague in Art: 10 Paintings You Should Know in the Times of Coronavirus
While illuminated manuscripts were created in more times and places than Medieval Europe, the quality and beauty of the Medieval examples are undeniable. In this article from The Collector, you can get a look at 6 truly amazing examples. link to 6 Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts That Will Amaze You
Have you ever heard of Pysanky Easter Eggs from Ukraine? Did you know that some Christian traditions place Easter on a different date than the one usually celebrated in the West? This article from Time explains these topics and more. link to The History Behind the Ukrainian Tradition of Decorating Pysanky Easter Eggs
Brunhild and Fredegund were queens of the Merovingian Dynasty. They survived the assassinations of their kings and maneuvered their way through the political power plays of their times. Unfortunately, both them and the dynasty they belonged to are often left out of discussions of the Middle Ages. This article from Smithsonian Magazine shines a light… Continue reading Article: The Medieval Queens Whose Daring, Murderous Reigns Were Quickly Forgotten
This carving from the Metropolitan Museum of Art is very interesting to me for several reasons. First, it is attributed to an "Old Assyrian Trading Colony," and it was found in what is now Turkey. Also, you don't often see female sphinxes, and most sphinxes come from Egypt. Added to that is the fact that… Continue reading Object: Furniture support: female sphinx with Hathor-style curls
The Venus of Willendorf got its name from the place in Austria where it was found. However, this new article from Smithsonian Magazine, presents that theory that the Venus may have actually been made in Italy and transported to Austria by a group of hunter-gatherers. link to 3-D Scans Show 30,000-Year Old Stone Sculpture...
Do you like Rome, the Middle Ages, the Early Church, or Latin? If so, The Latin Library may be for you. The goal of the site's creator was to compile public domain versions of important Latin documents--from Cicero, to Augustine, to Dante. There's only one small issue--all of the texts are in the original Latin,… Continue reading Website: The Latin Library
Are you interested in pottery, painting, or the Greeks? If so, then you should check out this great article from the Metropolitan Museum Journal. It discusses the often undervalued culture and art of the Greek Geometric Period. In particular it focusses on one specific Greek krater (wine vessel and/or grave marker). To download the article,… Continue reading Article: “Ships on a ‘Wine-Dark Sea’ in the Age of Homer”: Metropolitan Museum Journal, v. 35 (2000)
While Greek kraters could be used as communal vessels to dilute (with water) and serve wine, in the Geometric Period, they were also used as grave markers. This exquisite example from the Metropolitan Museum of Art showcases the deceased surrounded by mourners. It also shows a group of soldiers and horses. Note the stylized nature… Continue reading Object: Terracotta krater
Those who care about art face difficult choices when war strikes. In Ukraine, museum staff and art lovers have had to decide what they can do to protect their country's artistic and cultural heritage from destruction. link to "Cultural Catastrophe": Ukrainians Fear for Art and Monuments Amid Onslaught
If you need a book for a project, you might want to check out Project Gutenberg. They provide researchers and readers with open source ebooks in a variety of formats. While they have an extensive collection, they are limited by their desire to only publish works that are out of copyright (you can be fairly… Continue reading Website: Project Gutenberg
Weaving silk is a delicate process. This video showcases companies in France that weave silk using traditional methods. link to Shimmering Silk from France
Unfortunately, a great deal of art that existed before World War II was destroyed before the war was over. The Louvre was not willing to let that happen to their collections. Particular attention was given to ensuring the survival of the Mona Lisa. This article from Mental Floss details the work done to save the… Continue reading Article: How the Mona Lisa Escaped Destruction During World War II
Are you interested in the age of chivalry and knights in shining armor? If your answer is "yes," then you should check out the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Album of Tournaments and Parades. This is a 112-sheet manuscript that shows knights and shining armor as they appeared before competing in a special kind of tournament… Continue reading Object: Album of Tournaments and Parades in Nuremberg
Humanities Scholars 