Cultural Crossroads

[image] Technique: Jan Vermeer Art historian Carol Strickland notes that in "The Milkmaid," Vermeer defines forms with impasto and with dots of light -- 'a mosaic of paint daubs.' He added everyday details for interest and context, from the Delft tiles along the floor, the footwarmer,

[image] Sacred Geometry: A detailed 1850s plate of the Pisa Baptistery, Italy. This comprehensive study features an elevation, a cross-section, and a floor plan, revealing the complex transition from Romanesque to Gothic styles. The section clearly illustrates the building’s unique

[image] It seems these days we’ve lost the ability to “take the long view.” Did you know? 👇 - J.R.R. Tolkien worked on The Lord of the Rings for 12 years. - Johannes Brahms tinkered with his Symphony No. 1 over a period of 21 years before letting it be performed -Nelson Mandela was

[image] This is when the Gothic meets the Baroque… In Notre-Dame Cathedral of Rouen, Normandy. — Stone arches reaching high from the Middle Ages. Then the altar explodes in gold and detail centuries later. Photo by 📸:Abs

[image] There’s something odd about Titian’s painting of St. Mark Enthroned: St. Mark's head is in the shadows. Titian did this intentionally. At the time he painted it, Venice was suffering under the shadow of the Plague. Mark is joined by saints who were protectors against the

[image] Designed to be a divine dwelling, showcasing Borromini’s genius and his unmatched talent for bending natural light to his will… — What an extraordinary beauty! (Basilica di Sant'Andrea della Valle, Rome. Photo by 📸:Abs)

[image] “The blood flow to the brain increases for a beautiful painting just as it increases when you look at somebody you love. It tells us art induces a feel good sensation direct to the brain." (Semir Zeki, Neurobiologist)

[image] "La Bella," by Titian, c. 1536-38. The question is -- Is she presented for us to admire her beauty, or her trappings of wealth? In the Renaissance, feminine beauty was prized because it was fleeting: With disfiguring diseases, dangerous medical practices, and few remedies

[image] If you ever visit Il Santo in Padua for St Anthony’s day, look for these 2 charming scenes of the saint’s life: (See next 2 images)👇

[image] The face of innocence, looking out at us from the past. Girolamo della Robbia, c. 1510