Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication– Leonardo da Vinci I once saw Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” Then it was still possible to wander into the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan and see the mural. What do I remember? The silence. The profound…
Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper: Christ in the Epicenter of the Story
The Patriotic Art of the Arc de Triomphe, Paris
In 1805, Napoléon Bonaparte promised “triumphal arches” to his troops after they won the Battle of Austerlitz. The first arch that he commissioned was the Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile (the Triumphal Arch of the Star) in Paris, commonly known as the Arc de Triomphe, and construction began on Aug. 15, 1806, Bonaparte’s birthday. As a great…
Howard Pyle: An Illustrator’s Lessons
I’ve taught in college for over a decade now, and I often wonder what makes a good teacher? I often conclude that moral character is a teacher’s most important quality. With that said, good teachers don’t force their understanding of morality on their students. Instead, I believe a good teacher inspires students to think empathetically…
Following Leonardo: American Artist Joel Babb on Becoming a Successful Realist Painter
Maine-based realist painter Joel Babb very nearly became an abstract expressionist. But a series of events compelled him to follow past masters—Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Lorrain, and John Ruskin, to name a few—to become the successful artist he is today. Babb’s work is featured in private collections and in prominent ones, including the Museum of…
El Escorial: A Wellspring for the Spanish Empire
King Philip II inherited the Spanish Empire in 1556, including territories on every continent then known to Europeans. During his reign, the Spanish kingdoms reached the height of their influence and power. The king was named “Philip the Prudent” due to his care and thought for the future. He was devoted to God; he upheld…
Odes to Fathers, Courtesy of Baroque Artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
Art lovers can spot Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’s trademark Madonnas from across a room. The Spanish painter’s ethereal, raven-haired, porcelain-skinned portrayals of the Virgin Mary tenderly embracing her son or hovering on heavenly clouds grace museums across the world. Yet for every innovative image of the Mother of God that the Baroque artist painted, he produced…
Inspiring World-Class Art and Design: The Victoria and Albert Museum in London
The Victoria and Albert Museum, commonly known as the V&A, was the first building erected under Prince Albert’s vision to create a new cultural district in London dedicated to promoting art and scientific education and to champion British industry in the international marketplace. The museum’s purpose was “to educate designers, manufacturers, and the public in…
How William-Adolphe Bouguereau Dealt With Grief
As human beings, we try our best to deal with the pain of death. Today, we will look at how one of the greatest artists of the 19th century, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, dealt with death through his paintings. Bouguereau’s Artistic Development Bouguereau was born in 1825 in La Rochelle, France, and at a young age entered…
The Royal Palace of Amsterdam at the Center of the Universe
The Royal Palace was originally the Town Hall of Amsterdam, created in the 17th-century golden era of Holland. It was a time when Amsterdam and its fleet of ships held a dominant trading position, attracting great wealth to the nation’s capital. When the population grew fivefold, a new town hall was needed to serve the…
Hoping to Save Endangered Heritage Crafts in the UK
What does the making of glass eyes, ballet pointe shoes, and mouth-blown sheet-glass have in common? They are three of 20 heritage crafts that have been newly classified as “critically endangered” in the UK, a classification which means that those craft skills could disappear in a generation. On May 24, a total of 130 ”endangered”…
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