Many people find John Singer Sargent's work to be very appealing, but this isn't always the case. He has received sometimes-contradictory criticism both in his own time and now. What makes Sargent's work so compelling?
The Mysterious Daughters of Edward Darley Boit
John Singer Sargent's 1882 painting The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit is compelling and a bit mysterious. While reading Erica Hirshler's book about the painting, I learned that interpretations of the work have changed over time, and Sargent's contemporaries didn't read the same tone into it that we do.
The War of Art: A John Singer Sargent Fun Fact
A little backstory on John Singer Sargent's portrait of French siblings Edouard and Marie-Louise Pailleron. In this unusual case, animosity between the artist and one of the sitters made for surprisingly effective painting.
Edwin Austin Abbey (DailyArt Magazine)
After enjoying two spectacular Shakespeare paintings by American artist Edwin Austin Abbey, I was inspired to write an article about him for DailyArt Magazine.
Giorgio Vasari, the First Art Historian
Giorgio Vasari is considered to be the father of art history. In the mid-16th century, he wrote a set of biographies of Italy's most important artists and architects. It's been influential ever since then. A new biography of Vasari, published in 2017, takes a complete look at Vasari's life and work as both an artist and writer.
Michelangelo Didn’t Show His Work: A Fun Fact
A fun fact about Michelangelo and his drawings. Why didn't he want people to see them?
St. Bernard and Gargoyles: A Fun Fact
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, founder of the Cistercian order, definitely wasn't a fan of gargoyles and grotesques. This tells us some interesting things about how they were understood in their own time.
David’s Nose: A Fun Fact or Fable
A fun fact (or possibly a tall tale) about Michelangelo and his famous statue of David.
This Stuff’s Expensive: A Fun Fact About Colors
Did you know that not all paint colors are made the same way? This means that, at least at one time, some colors were much more difficult to get than others. What was the rarest color?
Rogue’s Gallery – Art Dealers as Colorful as any Artist
My review of a fascinating book, Rogue's Gallery, about the history of art dealers. As it turns out, it's not just the artists who have big personalities, and art dealers have affected art history a lot. A fun and informative book.
