Author: A Scholarly Skater
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Kykuit: Home of the Rockefellers
Kykuit is the Sleepy Hollow, NY estate of the Rockefeller family. It’s well-known for two things – its gardens and its modern art collection.
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Turner and His Disappearing Colors
Before synthetic colors, it was important to choose your paints wisely. Artists like Turner didn’t always do this, and their paintings discolored quickly.
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Colorful Travels with Victoria Finlay
Victoria Finlay travelled across the world to research historical sources of color. Her book is full of surprising and sometimes alarming facts.
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Enjoying Museum Surprises
It’s easy to assume that you know what you’ll enjoy at the museum. But try to keep an open mind. You may find a new favorite where you least expect it.
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The Hidden Colors of Antiquity
We’re used to thinking of ancient sculptures as colorless, but that’s totally wrong. Learn how the ancients painted statues and how they might have looked.
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The World’s First Painter: A Fun Fact That’s Totally a Fable
In his Natural History, The ancient Roman historian Pliny the Elder tells a memorable tale about the world’s first painter.
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What is History Painting?
History painting was once an important genre in European art. Learn about its characteristics and why all the most ambitious artists wanted to pursue it.
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The Romance of the Mountains at the Newark Museum
Thoughts on the Newark Museum’s exhibition The Rockies and The Alps: Bierstadt, Calame, and the Romance of the Mountains (March through August 2018).
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The Oxen of Laon Cathedral
A charming story about Laon Cathedral, an important early Gothic church, and why it has sixteen life-sized statues of oxen on its towers.
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Fool Me Once: A Fun Fact
Roman historian Pliny the Elder tells a humorous story about two artists trying to outdo each other with their illusionistic paintings.
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Fun Words I Learned Studying Art
I’ve learned so many cool words while studying art history. Here are six of my favorites along with definitions and artwork examples of each one.
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A Guide to Romanticism
Learn about the different themes and stylistic attributes of Romanticism in painting, sculpture, and architecture.
