Article: The Great Wave: Anatomy of an Icon

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

Object: Furniture support: female sphinx with Hathor-style curls

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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

Article: “Ships on a ‘Wine-Dark Sea’ in the Age of Homer”: Metropolitan Museum Journal, v. 35 (2000)

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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)

Object: Terracotta krater

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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

Object: Album of Tournaments and Parades in Nuremberg

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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

The Met: The Materials and Techniques of Drawings and Prints

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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

Website: The Metropolitan Museum of Art-New York

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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