For students of the humanities…
As a reaction to many thing happening in the 19th Century (including the industrial revolution, the popularization of the camera, Romanticism, etc.) some artists sought a more realistic path. These advocates of Realism popularlized a new kind of art that projected truths that might either compete directly with the camera or actually exceed what the… Continue reading Article: Nineteenth Century French Realism
Romanticism is a period of art which valued things like emotion and nature over technical precision. The works that resulted were some of the art world's most amazing. This essay from The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides a foundation for study. link to Romanticism
The Venus of Willendorf is both one of thee oldest human form sculptures still in existence and one of the most discussed ancient sculptures. Small enough to be held in a person's hands, it continues to tell us much about the people and place that created it. This article from My Modern Met details some new information… Continue reading Article: Longstanding Mystery Surrounding the Origins of a 30,000-Year-Old Figurine Is Solved
It can be very interesting when you find out that someone familar has more talents than you knew. This article from My Modern Met highlights one such case: actor Pierce Brosnan's painting hobby and the exhibition of his work. link to Actor Pierce Brosnan Debuts His First Solo Exhibition of His Deeply Personal Paintings
Can you embrace a new trend while respecting tradition? This article from My Modern Met showcases women in Japan who may have found a way to honor the old and the new. Some brides in Japan have begun to temporarily alter kimonos into beautiful wedding dresses. The best part is that the kimonos they use… Continue reading Article: Brides in Japan are Turning Their Long-Sleeve Kimonos Into Stunning Wedding Dresses
Science and art can come together in surprising ways. This article from the Metropolitan Museum of Art showcases how scientific analyses can tell us more about art that has captivated the world. In this case, the art being examined is The Great Wave/Under the Wave off Kanagawa. Also included in this article is a discussion… Continue reading Article: The Great Wave: Anatomy of an Icon
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
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
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
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
In addition to their amazingly varied collections, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (the Met) also provides educational materials on art-related topics. This particular resource walks you through various techniques for drawing and printmaking. I've already posted about a similar resource from MOMA for printmaking, but I think that the Met's version should… Continue reading The Met: The Materials and Techniques of Drawings and Prints
The one that gave me the idea to start this blog--this site contains an amazing amount of information. If you choose to search the collection (see link below), you will be able to find a huge variety of amazing works of art, and they have included a lot of useful information for each work. This… Continue reading Website: The Metropolitan Museum of Art-New York
Humanities Scholars 