One of the most inspirational and revolutionary documents ever written is the American Declaration of Independence. This great document isn’t read and studied as much today as it was in the past, but it should be. This single, relatively brief pronouncement captures and expresses the lofty ideals of America’s Founders as they set about laying…
‘Violino’: The Musical Trees
In every sound of the violin there is the breathing of its trees. —Antonio Stradivari, luthier The story of the world’s greatest violins begins in the musical woods nearly 400 years ago. Standing high atop the Italian Alps, at an altitude of over 5,575 feet, the magical spruce trees grow very slowly. Having endured the…
Seeing Beauty
British philosopher Roger Scruton (1944–2020) was a defender of beauty and traditional art throughout his long writing career. In his book “Beauty: A Very Short Introduction,” Scruton guides the reader through the world of the beautiful: from art to architecture to nature to even the simple pleasures of everyday acts, such as eating. He writes…
Lilies of the Virgin Mary: An Easter Reflection
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. —Luke 12:27 Lilies are a powerful symbol throughout the Christian Bible, and this becomes most apparent during Easter. In traditional European art, lilies are…
How We Learn To Draw
An Interview with New Masters Academy Founder Joshua Jacobo Many of us have been inspired to pick up a drawing pencil at some point in our lives. We may have been motivated to capture the beauty of a scene or depict a vision in our head, or perhaps, tempted by a row of instructional art…
The Eye of the Beholder: Reflecting on the Purpose of Beauty and Art
We’ve all heard the phrase “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” but what does this mean and does it hold weight? In this series, we’ll take a casual look at the philosophical debates concerning our experiences with beauty and art. Through questions and reflection, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of beauty…
Sound and Light
The Associated Press posted an article in 2007 about an Italian musician, Giovanni Pala, who believes he found a piece of musical composition hidden within Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting “The Last Supper.” Pala, a composer and computer technician, raises the possibility that da Vinci may have left behind a somber composition intended to accompany…
Antico Setificio Fiorentino
Florence is a city of secrets. As you walk through the ancient streets, large wooden doors open, revealing monastic courtyards, previously unknown workshops, and fresco-filled entranceways. There’s always something new to discover. On a sunny spring afternoon, therefore, I shouldn’t have been surprised to stumble across a hidden courtyard filled with tropical plants and sprawling…
The Pietà: An Image of Compassion
The pietà is a common theme throughout the history of Western art; it pertains to a work of art that depicts the Virgin Mary with her son Jesus Christ after Jesus’s death and descent from the cross. Depicting the mother’s love for her son after he endures great suffering, the word “pietà” roughly translates to…
The Perennial Beauty of Botticelli’s Paintings
Art of today possibly would not be what it is without the Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. Around 600 years ago, in the thriving city of Florence, Italy, young Botticelli, originally named Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi, was born to a tanner of modest means. An astute boy, Botticelli received a good education but equally felt bored…
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