Art Movements

Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Portrait of Gabrielle d’Estrées and One of Her Sisters

To a 21st-century viewer, the portrait of Gabrielle d’Estrées might seem homo-erotic. However, pictured with her sister, the Duchess of Villars,...

Anna Ingram 8 October 2024

Caravaggio Amor, Amor Vincit Omnia, ca. 1601 Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Amor Vincit Omnia by Caravaggio

Virgil’s famous saying amor vincit omnia means “love conquers all.” Famous Baroque painter, Caravaggio, clearly inspired by the famous sentence...

Zuzanna Stańska 8 October 2024

Art Travels

Did You Know That Henri Matisse Went to Morocco?

The first things that come to one’s mind when one thinks of Henri Matisse are France, Fauvism, raw shapes, and colors. But never Morocco! Why not?...

Yahya Bensouda 7 October 2024

Andrea Mantegna, Bridal Chamber, Ocluus. Mantua, Italy. Renaissance

Fooling the Eye: Illusionistic Games in Andrea Mantegna’s Bridal Chamber

A masterpiece of the early Italian Renaissance, Andrea Mantegna’s Bridal Chamber has been described as the most beautiful room in the world.

Natalia Iacobelli 7 October 2024

Pontormo Detail from The Visitation Mannerism

Pontormo: The Neglected Mannerist Painter

Pontormo was a Renaissance painter, admired by both Michelangelo and Raphael. His first apprenticeship was in Leonardo da Vinci's workshop. His work is treasured by The National Gallery and The Uffizi. His luminous work is truly magnificent, so why is he so neglected?

Guest Profile 7 October 2024

Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Flower Still Life by Jan van Huysum

Flower Still Life by Jan van Huysum is a still-life masterpiece that explores beautiful flowers and delicate butterflies. The painting is part of the...

James W Singer 6 October 2024

Medieval Art

The Unicorn Tapestries – Allegory of Christ, or a Happy Husband?

The Unicorn Tapestries are a set of medieval tapestries depicting a hunt for a unicorn, a popular motif at the time. They’re probably the most...

Alexandra Kiely 4 October 2024

Animals

Blue Faience Hippopotamuses: The Cutest Animals of Ancient Egypt!

Blue faience hippopotamus was a popular statuette in ancient Egyptian art. It was considered to have positive traits associated with fertility and...

Zuzanna Stańska 4 October 2024

Animals

The Goldfinch: Singing Across Time

See the lonely little bird, trapped in a situation over which it has no control. Chained, isolated. Sounds familiar? In these strange times we need...

Candy Bedworth 4 October 2024

Post-Impressionism

Vincent van Gogh in 10 Paintings: A Journey Through His Art

Vincent van Gogh remains one of the most influential figures in the history of Western art. His life, marked by intense emotions, personal struggles,...

Jimena Aullet 3 October 2024

Sculpture

Not All There—The Enigmatic Sculptures of Bruno Catalano

Celebrating Marseille’s designation as the European Capital of Culture in 2013, Bruno Catalano crafted 10 life-size bronze sculptures installed...

Nadine Waldmann 3 October 2024

History

The Unknown Illustrations by Edward Hopper

If you’ve seen the painting titled Nighthawks, chances are you are slightly familiar with the work of 20th-century American Realist artist,...

Rachel Witte 3 October 2024