A Scholarly Skater
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Surviving College Art History and Its Exams
Studying art history in college is rewarding, but it can be confusing and stressful, too. This is my best advice about what to expect and how to succeed.
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A Wearable Religious Painting from Ethiopia
At the Met, a small religious diptych from Ethiopia caught my eye. This very old Christian tradition has produced many wonderful icons like this one.
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The World Between Two Empires: Ancient Middle Eastern Art at the Met
The World Between Two Empires shows beautiful and unusual Middle Eastern art and artifacts from about 100 BCE to 250 CE.
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Up Close and Personal With Illuminated Manuscripts
Taking a close look at the medieval illuminated manuscripts at an NYC book fair reminded me how manuscripts are best enjoyed in person.
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Art That Inspires Me: Lady Agnew of Locknaw by John Singer Sargent
I love John Singer Sargent, and this is my all-time favorite Sargent painting. It depicts Lady Gertrude Agnew of Locknaw, a Scottish aristocrat.
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Period Eye: Seeing Old Art With Modern Eyes
We all know that all sorts of things were different in the past. But have you ever considered how that impacts the way you look at art?
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Don’t Walk Like an Egyptian, Because They Didn’t, Either!
People often talk about “walking like an Egyptian”, but ancient Egyptians did not walk this way. Instead, the iconic pose comes from Egyptian art.
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Highlights at the Wadsworth Athenaeum
The Wadsworth Athenaeum is one of America’s oldest art museums. It has a little bit of everything and is a very pleasant place to spend an afternoon.
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Beginner-Friendly Art Styles: Suggestions for New Museum Visitors
For those new to art, do you feel unsure what to see first? I think these three areas are particularly accessible and enjoyable to new viewers.
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King of the Confessors: a Crazy Story About the Cloisters Cross
Thomas Hoving’s King of the Confessors is about his adventures in acquiring the so-called Cloisters Cross. The story is wild, and I couldn’t put it down.
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A Skating and Art Fun Fact
This painting depicts a fashionable way to ice skate in the 18th and 19th centuries. Find out why I don’t recommend skating that way today.
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American Artists and the American Revolution
In the USA, paintings help us experience the story of our country’s origins. Paul Staiti’s book talks about five major painters of the American Revolution.
