For students of the humanities…
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
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...
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)
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
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
In 1937, Pablo Picasso painted Guernica to illustrate his reaction to the Nazi bombing in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. This work is part of a long tradition of artists reacting to current events in general and war in particular. Visuals of this type often have a significant impact on their viewers and help… Continue reading Article: 10 Facts About Guernica by Pablo Picasso
For those studying 18th Century painting, this article showcases how the culture influenced the art. Specifically, the article focuses on a particular painting of Jacques Louis David, and it presents a forensic examination of its makeup and history. link to Refashioning the Lavoisiers
Musicians, artists, and other creators of the Humanities often respond to current events in their work. In this article, Newsweek discusses the internet's response to John Ondrasik's (Five for Fighting) song about the impact that the President of Ukraine is having on the world. link to "Can One Man Save the World" Song About Zelensky… Continue reading Article: “Can One Man Save the World” Song About Zelensky Takes the Internet by Storm
The Encyclopedia Britannica's website provides information on a huge variety of topics. In this case, they provide information on the truth of the life of Saint Patrick. It's a more complicated story that one might expect. He is definitely involved in Ireland, but most of the rest of his life and accomplishments are shrouded in… Continue reading Article: Saint Patrick: bishop and patron saint of Ireland
In this article from 2017, ArtNet details the destruction (that was at that time still ongoing) of cultural heritage sites by ISIS. Stories like this show the destructive affect of war on art and culture (in addition to its painful consequences for people's lives and families). link to A Monumental Loss...
Duolingo offers both free and paid online language classes in numerous languages. As such, they know a great deal about how language works and what hidden messages it can contain. In this article from their blog, Duolingo explains the differences between the Ukrainian and Russian languages and talks about how language can be political. This… Continue reading Article: Language matters: What learners need to know about Ukrainian
The British Library is an excellent source in general, and their Middle Ages project gives a good amount of information on the period--primarily though a look at a number of illuminated manuscripts. Links are provided to multiple articles, and you can view a number of interesting items (with descriptions from their collection. This is part… Continue reading Article: British Library-The Middle Ages
Humanities Scholars 