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

[video] Here sits Victor Hugo, slumped in his chair, quill in hand, thinking of what he could possibly write to top Les Misérables. Sculpted by Gaetano Trentanove (c. 1890). Pitti Palace, Florence, Italy

[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] For all you dads on Father's Day weekend: 10 Poignant paintings showing fatherhood in its various forms: 1. "Rudolf von Arthaber and His Children," by Friedrich von Amerling, c. 1837

[image] What is it about an arcaded walkway that seems so civilized? This one is in Treviso, Italy. My 📸

[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] Noticing details: This charming 17th-century dog has curled up for a nap with common household items, including a single slipper—perhaps a treasure he brought with him. Notice the meticulous details on the little dog—its half-closed eyes, soft fur, wet nose and the leathery pads

[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] Embrace the practice of noticing.

[image] In Pinturicchio’s sumptuous Annunciation (c. 1493), Mary lives in a luxurious Renaissance villa with a stunning view. In the Borgia Apartments at the Vatican.

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

[image] St. George and the Dragon, by Sodoma, c. 1518. Art historian Bernard Berenson (no big fan of Sodoma's) said this was one of his best works, with background details like Leonardo da Vinci and theatricality like Raphael. As for me, I like the horse's tiny ears, human eyes, and

[image] This day, July 18, 1610. Caravaggio, the brilliant and notoriously volatile Baroque painter, died at the age of 38.  Here is the account of  his desperate final days:  After killing a man in a brawl, Caravaggio had been on the run for a few years, and now he was traveling to

[image] La Torre de Belém (The Tower of Belém). Enrique Casanova, 1882 AD. Perhaps Lisbon's most important landmark. #fine #art #painting #Portugal

[image] Pietro Perugino in a nutshell: 1. He was Raphael’s mentor. 2. He was a master of beautiful faces and sumptuous colors and fabrics. 3. Michelangelo, who thought Perugino’s art was out-dated, famously called him an “art-clutz.”

[image] Leonardo da Vinci, La Scapigliata (the "Disheveled Woman"), c. 1508. By the way, when referring to the painter, never call him "da Vinci." Here's why: Back then, surnames were generally for upper class families. Lower and middle class people were often identified by this combo:

[video] A short run through of 5 of the best-known and brightest stars of the Florentine Renaissance, with 2-3 representative works for each.

[image] Just a suggestion: When you make your Last Will and Testament, include a bit of decoration, like Alfonso I d’Este did in 1534. 😉

[image] Sommer im Fjord (Summer in Fjord). Adelsteen Normann, circa 1918 AD. Hands down, the best day trip from Oslo. #fine #art #painting #norway

[image] Interpreting (not pigeon-holing) great art: Bartolomeo Vivarini - Madonna of Humility, 1465. 1/2: Bartolomeo was one of the in-betweens, painters in the transition from Gothic to Renaissance style. He updated the old style, without abandoning it. These in-between artists

[image] A Madonna della Misericordia (“of mercy”) from the late Middle Ages: These depict Mary as protector. The "little people" under her cloak are small because of artistic hierarchy, not age. The origin: In medieval law (such as Italian legal customs), placing a vulnerable person

[image] Santiago de Compostela's Cathedral in Spain. William Wiehe Collins, circa 1892 AD. Europe's most famous pilgrimage site, perhaps? #fine #art #faith #painting