Author: A Scholarly Skater
-
The Appeal of John Singer Sargent
Many people find John Singer Sargent’s work to be very appealing, though he’s received his share of criticism as well. What makes his work so compelling?
-
The Mysterious Daughters of Edward Darley Boit
John Singer Sargent’s The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit is both compelling and mysterious, and interpretations of the work have changed over time.
-
The War of Art: A John Singer Sargent Fun Fact
In the unusual case of Sargent’s portrait of the Pailleron siblings, animosity between the artist and sitter made for surprisingly effective painting.
-
Giorgio Vasari, the First Art Historian
Giorgio Vasari is considered the father of art history. A new biography of Vasari, published in 2017, takes a complete look at his life and work.
-
Michelangelo Didn’t Show His Work: A Fun Fact
Here’s 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 wasn’t a fan of gargoyles and grotesques. This tells us something interesting about how they were understood at the 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
Not all paint colors are made the same way, so 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
Rogue’s Gallery is a fascinating book about the history of art dealers. As it turns out, it’s not just the artists who have big personalities.
-
A Guide to Pre-Raphaelite Painting
Learn about Pre-Raphaelite painting – major artists, their ideas, and how you can identify the works? Find out how it relates to the industrial revolution.
-
Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts
My thoughts on Meetings With Remarkable Manuscripts, a really excellent and informative book about twelve, world-class medieval manuscripts.
-
The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
The Lost Painting is about the rediscovery of a lost Caravaggio painting. It’s basically a thrilling mystery novel that features art instead of crime.
