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# A Scholarly Skater Art History

Practical art history for everyone

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## Posts

- [Ten Perfect Guests: an Art-Inspired Thriller (book review)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2026/06/17/ten-perfect-guests/) - I recently had the opportunity to read Ten Perfect Guests, an upcoming thriller novel set in the contemporary art world.
- [How to Research Art - A Guide](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/09/05/how-to-research-art-a-guide/) - It's back to school time, and that makes me feel even more scholarly than usual. So, I thought it would be nice to talk about a school-type subject - researching art. This guide gives advice about types of sources, choosing good sources, thinking critically, tackling challenging topics, and more.
- [Enjoying a medieval fantasy at the Cloisters](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/07/06/medieval-fantasy-cloisters/) - The Cloisters is a museum of medieval art, but I think it's also more than that. Spending time there is like being transported to another time and place.
- [Holy Land treasures, with a side of modern Rococo: a visit to the Frick](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2025/12/16/holy-land-treasures-modern-rococo/) - On a merry and crowded December Saturday, I visited two great exhibitions at the Frick Collection in New York - a rare North American showing of historic church treasures and a clever contemporary take on Rococo painting.
- [Understand and interpret art with The Art Museum Insider](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/11/06/the-art-museum-insider-learn-to-understand-and-interpret-art/) - Here's how my book, The Art Museum Insider, will teach you how to understand art, interpret art, and feel confident in art museums - all without years of study.
- [Popular Types of Art Exhibitions to Enjoy in Museums](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2026/03/11/types-of-art-museum-exhibitions/) - Museum exhibitions are the most common places most of us encounter art. In this article, you'll discover the main types of art exhibitions and the sorts of ideas they often convey.
- [Gold, Mummies, and a Dinner Party: The Brooklyn Museum](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2025/03/31/brooklyn-museum/) - One of America's oldest museums, the Brooklyn Museum has a rich collection of American, Egyptian, and feminist art.
- [Four Art Appreciation Basics for Newbie Art Enthusiasts](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2026/01/12/art-appreciation-basics-newbies/) - Art museums may seem intimidating at first, but it's easier than you might think to have a meaningful experience. These four techniques can help beginners start understanding and engaging with art without tons of knowledge needed.
- [How to Understand Art without Wall Texts](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/08/08/how-to-enjoy-art-without-wall-texts/) - Wall labels can be mixed blessings, but it's disorienting when they're absent. Here's my best advice for what to do when the labels fail you.
- [How to Understand and Interpret Abstract Art](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2025/01/16/how-to-understand-and-interpret-abstract-art/) - This article discusses the basics of abstract art, common misconceptions, and tips for how to understand abstract art whenever you encounter it.
- [Enjoy and Learn About Art from Anywhere](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/10/26/how-to-enjoy-art-from-the-comfort-of-your-home/) - There's no question that art is best viewed in person, but that's not always easy or even possible. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives.
- [Surviving College Art History and Its Exams](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/03/29/how-to-prepare-for-art-history-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.
- [Contemplating Moroni's Portrait of a Woman at the Frick](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/03/13/moroni-portrait-of-a-woman/) - The Frick recently acquired Portrait of a Woman, an intriguing and surprisingly assertive portrait of an unknown woman in luxurious Renaissance clothing.
- [Why See Art in Museums?](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/03/04/why-see-art-in-museums/) - It’s easier than ever to see art without leaving home, so you may wonder if you should go see it in person. In my opinion, the answer is definitely yes!
- [Art-Inspired Delicacies: Art Afternoon Tea at The Merrion Dublin](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/07/12/art-afternoon-tea-merrion/) - At the Merrion, a fancy hotel in Dublin, you can have a unique, art-inspired afternoon tea while enjoying the hotel's extensive art collection.
- [Art O'Murnaghan and the Book of Resurrection](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/03/17/art-omurnaghan-and-the-book-of-resurrection/) - As I'm pretty sure I've mentioned several times before, I am a big fan of medieval illuminated manuscripts. I've always found it a bit sad that the tradition has very little place in the modern world, which is why I was quite intrigued to read about this manuscript in a book about Celtic art. I've
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Westminster Abbey and Palace, London](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/03/11/gargoyle-of-the-day-westminster-abbey-london/) - An introduction to the gargoyles and grotesques of Westminster Abbey and Westminster Palace - two important Gothic and Gothic Revival structures in London.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of the Washington National Cathedral](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/08/02/gargoyle-of-the-day-national-cathedral-washington-d-c/) - The National Cathedral in Washington D.C. is a rare and wonderful example of twentieth-century architectural design including gargoyles and grotesques with all the cleverness and authenticity of their very best medieval ancestors. For this, we have to thank the creativity and skill of the craftsmen who carved them in much the same way they would
- [Gargoyle and Grotesques: Biltmore Estate, North Carolina](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/18/gargoyle-of-the-day-biltmore-estate-north-carolina/) - An introduction to the grotesques at Biltmore Estate, a huge private home in Ashville, North Carolina, USA.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of the University of Chicago](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/11/22/gargoyle-of-the-day-university-of-chicago/) - I've talked about the University of Chicago's gargoyles before, in a post about collegiate gargoyles. However, I really had no idea at the time how prominent a role these gargoyles play in the school's culture. Not only is the university's IT system nicknamed "gargoyle", but the University of Chicago gargoyle also has his own blog, and the
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Chateau de Pierrefonds, France](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/01/10/gargoyle-of-the-day-chateau-de-pierrefonds-oise-france/) - A crocodile gargoyle on the Chateau de Pierrefonds in France.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/02/07/gargoyle-of-the-day-chhatrapati-shivaji-victoria-terminus-mumbai-india/) - The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is a railway station in Mumbai, India. Formerly called the Victoria Terminus, it was designed by Frederick William Stevens and constructed between 1878 and 1888, during British colonial rule of India.(1) The building is Victorian Gothic in style but also clearly reflects some characteristics of native Indian architectural traditions. According to UNESCO's website
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Glynallen Castle, New Jersey](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/11/07/gargoyles-glynallen-castle/) - Two picturesque grotesques from a fantastical, Tudor-inspired mansion in New Jersey.
- [A Chateau in North Carolina - My Visit to Biltmore](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/10/12/my-visit-to-biltmore/) - Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC was once the home of George Vanderbilt and his family. Now a resort and museum, it was the object of my recent trip.
- [Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart: the Gothic Spirit in America](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/12/30/cathedral-basilica-of-the-sacred-heart/) - The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a beautiful, massive Gothic Revival church in Newark, New Jersey. There, I recap my recent visit.
- [Caught Between Eras: Chateau de Pierrefonds](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/03/06/chateau-pierrefonds/) - The Chateau de Pierrefonds, a castle in France, demonstrates how the line between medieval and modern can get really blurry.
- [Glamour, Modernism, and the City that Never Sleeps: Art Deco in 1920s New York](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/12/17/glamour-modernism-and-the-city-that-never-sleeps-art-deco-in-1920s-new-york/) - "New York is an Art Deco city - indeed, the Deco city [...] The Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and Rockefeller Center were crowning achievements of the late 1920s and early 1930s, and remain the dominant celebrities of the midtown skyline. Deco lobbies, theatres, jazz bars, restaurants, and details also hide and surprise at eye
- [Winter by Alphonse Mucha (December 16th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/16/december-16th-winter-by-alfons-mucha/) - A personification of winter by Alphonse Mucha. Mucha's elegant female figures are synonymous with Art Nouveau even today.
- [The Cathedrals of Broadway by Florine Stettheimer](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/05/19/american-art-of-the-week-the-cathedrals-of-broadway/) - The Cathedrals of Broadway, from a series of four paintings by American artist Florine Stettmheimer about life in 1920s-40s New York.
- [A Guide to Impressionist Painting](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/10/10/a-guide-to-impressionist-painting/) - Impressionism is one of the most famous and well-loved styles in western art history. It's well known for haystacks and waterlilies by Monet, dancers by Degas, and beautiful women by Renoir. Learn about Impressionism's main ideas and controversial origins.
- [A Guide to Post-Impressionist Painting](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/11/03/guide-post-impressionist/) - The Post-Impressionist movement started in Paris around 1880. Post-Impressionism can be seen in painting and other two-dimensional art forms like drawings and prints. Artists such as Cezanne, van Gogh, Matisse, and Gauguin were its stars.
- [A Guide to Cubism](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/11/08/guide-cubism/) - How to recognize and understand Cubism. Learn about the key artists, underlying ideas, and background.
- [A Guide to Fauvism](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/11/21/guide-fauvism/) - Understand the painting style Fauvism. Learn about its key artists and works, underlying ideas, historical background, and how to recognize it.
- [The Life and Work of Roger Fry](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/12/17/the-life-and-work-of-roger-fry/) - Meet Roger Fry. A little while back, Mr. Fry and I spent a delightful year in each other's company, because he was the subject of my honors thesis in my senior year of college. Seeing as dear old Roger holds such an important place in my scholarly career, I figure it is high time I
- [Fry versus Sargent](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/12/29/fry-versus-sargent/) - Many people are huge fans of John Singer Sargent, but British painter and art theorist Roger Fry wasn't one of them.
- [Gargoyle and Grotesques of Windsor Castle](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/08/23/gargoyle-of-the-day-windsor-castle-england/) - I've noticed that many of the quirkiest and most unique gargoyles that catch my eye are from England. This little man looks almost like he could be a cartoon character or a figure in an animated movie about the Middle Ages.
- [Worksop Bestiary - Day 9](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/10/worksop-bestiary-day-nine-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Bestiaries – books about animals and their qualities – are my favorite kind of medieval illuminated manuscript because of their great imagery.
- [The Luttrell Psalter - Day 10](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/10/the-luttrell-psalter-day-ten-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - The Luttrell Psalter is a beautiful book that’s celebrated for its animal marginalia and idealized scenes of everyday medieval life.
- [St. Cuthbert's Gospel - Day 20](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/20/st-cuthberts-gospel-day-twenty-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Read about an early medieval English illuminated manuscript associated with Saint Cuthbert, an important British monastic figure.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of St. Denys, Aswarby, Lincolnshire](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/25/gargoyle-of-the-day-church-of-st-denys-aswarby-lincolnshire/) - This square-ish fellow kind of reminds me of an early video game creature. When I went to get the image link, I noticed it was titled "Hunky Punk", which I thought was interesting. I googled the term and discovered that "hunky punk" is a term specifically used in Somerset, England to describe grotesques (never true
- [Christ in the House of His Parents (December 1st)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/01/december-1st-christ-in-the-house-of-his-parents/) - The first installment of an art historical advent calendar - features Pre-Raphaelite painting Christ in the House of His Parents by John Everett Millais.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of the Tower of London](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/20/gargoyle-of-the-day-tower-of-london/) - This weirdly-misshapen face is one of several gargoyles or grotesques located on the infamous Tower of London. Considering the many horrifying things that have happened inside that castle-turned-prison, I would say that his somewhat-twisted appearance is appropriate, though I'm sure this wasn't intentional. Interestingly, the other Tower of London gargoyles I found, though all still disembodied
- [A Young Girl Dressed Up for Christmas (December 22nd)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/22/december-22nd-a-young-girl-dressed-up-for-christmas-by-kate-greenaway/) - For a fine art Advent calendar, a charming illustration of a well-dressed little girl by Kate Greenaway.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/02/21/gargoyle-of-the-day-bamburgh-castle-northumberland-england/) - This rather distressed-looking grotesque lives on Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, England. He sticks out his tongue and pokes at something inside his mouth, as though he's having some dental problems. I can't help but feel a little sorry for this odd little dude. He belongs to a subset of gargoyles and grotesques known as "mouth pullers"
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Wells Cathedral, Somerset, UK](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/03/06/gargoyle-of-the-day-wells-cathedral-somerset-uk/) - Two weeks ago, I talked about the mouth puller grotesque and how common he can be in Gothic architecture. The grotesque above belongs to a related type - the thorn puller, who struggles to pull a thorn or some other painful irritant out of his foot. The thorn puller appears in many different churches and may
- [A Review of the Yale Center for British Art](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/02/07/review-yale-center-for-british-art/) - The Yale Center for British Art is an entire museum dedicated to historical British art. Learn about my experience and the Louis I. Kahn-designed building.
- [A Guide to Pre-Raphaelite Painting](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/03/22/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.
- [Turner and His Disappearing Colors](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/05/30/turner-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.
- [Turner: The Life Behind the Paintings](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/08/17/turner-life-behind-paintings/) - If you enjoy the works of J.M.W. Turner and want to know more about him, I suggest reading Franny Moyle's comprehensive book about his life and art.
- [King of the Confessors: a Crazy Story About the Cloisters Cross](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/01/15/king-of-the-confessors-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.
- [Meet the Gainsborough Family](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/05/20/meet-the-gainsborough-family/) - Most of Thomas Gainsborough’s compelling portraits of his daughters were displayed together in Gainsborough's Family Album at the Princeton U. Art Museum.
- [Art in TV and Film: Turner's Reichenbach Falls](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/06/25/turner-reichenbach-falls-sherlock/) - Turner's watercolor The Great Falls of the Reichenbach appeared in a 2012 episode of the BBC series Sherlock. Learn why this choice was so very fitting.
- [The Dig: a Book and Movie About Sutton Hoo](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2021/02/01/the-dig-sutton-hoo/) - A new movie called The Dig, based on a novel of the same name, tells a fictionalized version of the Sutton Hoo treasures’ discovery.
- [Bernini's Angels](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/12/05/berninis-angels/) - I have been working on a new skating program for the past month or so to a song called "Bernini's Angels", so I have recently been thinking a lot about the titular sculptor. In the program, I play the character of a young art student who is stuck in a terrible creative rut, travels to
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Casa della Vittoria, Turin](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/01/31/gargoyle-of-the-day-casa-della-vittoria-turin-italy/) - This dragon grotesque and his twin live on the Casa della Vittoria in Turin, Italy. The building is also sometimes called Casa dei Draghi, presumably because of decorations like this one. ("Drago" is the Italian work for "dragon".) I'm having trouble finding out more about the building, on account of the fact that my Italian is currently a bit rusty,
- [A Fourteenth-Century Italian Choir Book - Day 3](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/03/a-14th-century-italian-choir-book-day-three-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Today's entry features a page from a 14th-century choir book called an antiphonary. Like most medieval choir books, it’s huge and has big illustrations.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of the Temple of Nike in Sicily](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/11/gargoyle-of-the-day-temple-of-nike-at-himera-sicily/) - These lion gargoyles come from the Temple of Nike (Victory) at Himera, Sicily. The ancient temple was probably built to commemorate a military victory of the Syracusans (rulers of Sicily) over the Carthaginians c. 480 BCE, though it was destroyed around 408 BCE in another battle that resulted in victory for the Carthaginians. Ruins of
- [The Archangel Michael by Guido Reni (December 3rd)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/03/december-3rd-the-archangel-michael-by-guido-reni/) - What would Christmas be without some angels? This striking painting of the Michael the Archangel is by Italian Baroque painter Guido Reni (1575-1642). In characteristic Baroque fashion, the painting is full of drama. The large figure of Michael is wearing Roman battle attire prepares to impale a tough-looking man representing Satan. Behind him is a shadowy setting with rocks in
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of the Duomo, Milan](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/01/03/gargoyle-of-the-day-duomo-milan/) - In 2012, Milan's Duomo came up with a pretty cool fundraising idea. In order to come up with the necessary funds to support restorations efforts, this massive Gothic cathedral decided to put its 135 gargoyles up for adoption. Donors could pick a gargoyle to contribute to, receiving a little name plaque underneath "their" gargoyle. This article on swide.com
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/01/24/gargoyle-of-the-day-santa-maria-del-fiore-florence/) - Today's grotesque came to my attention via Atlas Obscura, a fantastic place to find fun, quirky facts and interesting locations to visit. This little bull figure lives on one side of the cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy. The church is heavily-laden with sculptural decorations of many styles and subjects, but this bull has a story separate
- [A Guide to Classical Roman Architecture](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/12/19/guide-classical-roman-architecture/) - Understand the major ideas and components of classical Roman architecture. What was its context, and what later monuments did it influence?
- [The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/03/17/lost-painting-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.
- [Artemisia: Viewing Her Exhibition Online](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/11/24/artemisia-online/) - I recently enjoyed a half-hour video tour of the National Gallery's Artemisia exhibition, narrated by curator Letizia Treves.
- [The Pastel Portrait Delights of Rosalba Carriera](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2021/03/22/rosalba-carriera/) - Learn about Rosalba Carriera (aka the "Queen of Pastel"), her innovation in portraiture, and her distinctly feminine take on 18th-century pin-ups.
- [Orsola Maddalena Caccia at the Met](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2021/08/05/orsola-maddalena-caccia/) - The Met's acquisition of three works by little-known 16th-century painter Orsola Maddalena Caccia made headlines in late 2020.
- [Siena: The Rise of Painting exhibition review](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/12/13/siena-the-rise-of-painting-exhibition-review/) - My review of the exhibition Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350 at the Met Museum. I enjoyed this show and the beautiful works within.
- [What is Attribution?](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2022/12/07/attribution/) - Understand attribution, the process by which art historians make educated suppositions about who made an artwork when they don’t know the artist for sure.
- [Leonardo's Lost Princess](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/05/19/just-finished-reading-leonardos-lost-princess/) - Some thoughts on Leonardo's Lost Princess, a book about a drawing controversially attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
- [Saint Nicholas of Bari by Carlo Crivelli (December 6th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/06/december-6th-saint-nicholas-of-bari-by-carlo-crivelli/) - December 5th's Advent Calendar post is a painting of Saint Nicolas (the forefather of Santa Claus) by Italian Renaissance painter Carlo Crivelli.
- [Annunciation by Fra Angelico (December 8th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/08/december-8th-annunciation-by-fra-angelico/) - Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, so it seems appropriate to feature this Annunciation by Fra Angelico for the Advent Calendar. I have known that I wanted to use this painting since the beginning of the month, it was just a question of when. I love the work of Italian monk Guido di Pietro,
- [Madonna d'Orleans by Raphael (December 18th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/18/december-18th-madonna-dorleans-by-raphael/) - For the 18th day of a fine art Advent calendar, one of Raphael's famous Madonna and Child paintings - the Orleans Madonna of 1506.
- [A Guide to Renaissance Architecture](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/11/30/guide-renaissance-architecture/) - A guide to recognizing and appreciating Renaissance architecture. Includes background, key ideas, important architects, and examples.
- [David's Nose: A Fun Fact or Fable](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/04/03/davids-nose/) - A fun fact (or possibly a tall tale) about Michelangelo and his famous statue of David.
- [Michelangelo Didn't Show His Work: A Fun Fact](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/04/06/michelangelo-a-fun-fact/) - Here's a fun fact about Michelangelo and his drawings. Why didn't he want people to see them?
- [Giorgio Vasari, the First Art Historian](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/04/13/giorgio-vasari-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.
- [The Grumpy Angel](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/08/12/the-grumpy-angel/) - In this painting by 14th-century artist Niccolo di ser Sozzo, the angel looks impatient and irritated. This is something you don't see very often.
- [Much Ado About a New Cimabue](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/10/01/much-ado-about-a-new-cimabue/) - A painting attributed to Cimabue was recently found in a French woman's kitchen. Learn why this discovery is both significant and controversial.
- ["Pictor Angelicus" - Fra Angelico the Angelic Painter](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/12/12/pictor-angelicus-fra-angelico/) - In honor of the Christmas season, let’s look at Fra Angelico – an Italian Renaissance artist famous for his beautiful and elegant angel paintings.
- [Michelangelo Comes to Life in Irving Stone's The Agony and the Ecstasy](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/07/15/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy-michelangelo/) - The Agony and the Ecstasy is a 1961 biographical novel about Michelangelo. Here’s why I'm glad that people kept pushing me to read this book.
- [A Universe of Art at TEFAF Online](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/11/02/tefaf-online/) - This is my experience viewing TEFAF Online. This art fair has a little bit of everything, plus the unique twist of only showing one object per gallery.
- [The Sumptuous Saints of Carlo Crivelli](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/12/18/carlo-crivelli/) - Meet Carlo Crivelli, painter of Madonnas and saints. His rich, beautiful style is part Gothic and part Renaissance, with a hint of Byzantine icon painting.
- [La Gargouille, the evil dragon gargoyle of Rouen](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/12/02/la-gargouille-the-evil-dragon-gargoyle-of-rouen/) - One highly fanciful legend exists about the origin of the first gargoyle. It concerns a dragon who terrorized the town of Rouen, in France.
- [Dancers and Skaters by Renoir](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/01/02/dancers-and-skaters-by-renoir/) - A selection of beautiful paintings by Pierre Auguste Renoir - all depicting my two favorite things, ice skating and dancing.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Notre Dame de Paris](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/03/13/gargoyle-of-the-day-notre-dame-de-paris/) - This 19th-century grotesque comes from the great Gothic cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Reims Cathedral, France](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/03/19/gargoyle-of-the-day-reims-cathedral-france/) - This gargoyle is so strange! From the differences in the stone, I assume that the creepy head is a later alteration or restoration, but I'm still not sure what the figure is supposed to represent. The words "crazed donkey" come to mind, however.
- [The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux - Day 2](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/02/the-hours-of-jeanne-devreux-day-two-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - The early-14th century Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux introduces us to the Book of Hours, surprising scale in manuscripts, and the wacky world of marginalia.
- [The Manuscript Collection of Jean de Berry - Day 7](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/07/the-manuscript-collection-of-jean-de-berry-day-seven-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Instead of focusing on a manuscript or a component of one, I've chosen to write today about medieval history's most prolific manuscript collector.
- [The Roman de the Rose - Day 15](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/17/the-roman-de-the-rose-day-fifteen-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Read about the illustrations in a medieval French romance poem that was the subject of so many illuminated manuscripts.
- [A Winter's Walk by Jacques-Joseph Tissot (December 14th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/14/december-14th-a-winters-walk-by-jacques-joseph-tissot/) - A fashionable portrait of a woman taking a walk on a winter's day, by French realism Jacques-joseph Tissot. Part of a fine art Advent calendar.
- [Nativity by Jean-Baptiste Marie Pierre (December 25th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/25/december-25th-nativity-by-jean-baptiste-marie-pierre/) - The Christmas Day edition of an art history Advent calendar features a Nativity painting by French artist Jean Baptiste Marie Pierre.
- [More Gargoyle and Grotesques of Notre Dame de Paris](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/04/10/gargoyle-of-the-day-notre-dame-de-paris-2/) - Today's grotesque is a true classic. The gargoyles of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris are neither the oldest nor the most interesting of their kind, but they have certainly become the most famous. The interior and exterior of this church, which was a major milestone in the history of Gothic architecture, were both rather creatively restored by Gothic Revival proponent
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Bethlehem Chapel, Saint-Jean-de-Boiseau, France](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/04/17/gargoyle-of-the-day-bethlehem-chapel-saint-jean-de-boiseau-france/) - The Bethlehem Chapel is a little medieval French church that was restored in a very unusual manner. In the 1990s, a movement began to repair the decaying chapel, which had once played host to a series of now-lost grotesques on the building's four pinnacles. The architect and stone carver, supported by the town's youth, decided to
- [Elizabeth Vigée Le Brun at the Met](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/04/19/elizabeth-vigee-le-brun-at-the-met/) - My experience at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's major 2016 exhibition of works by Elizabeth Vigée Le Brun. Vigée Le Brun French Neoclassical and Rococo portrait painter and one of the first women to succeed as a professional portrait painter on a grand scale.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Chartres Cathedral](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/04/24/gargoyle-of-the-day-chartres-cathedral-france/) - This grotesque is on the west portal of Chartres Cathedral - among the grandest and most famous of all French Gothic churches. While its close cousin in Paris is famous for its gargoyles, Chartres is celebrated for its beautiful stained glass and profuse sculptural decoration. Much of this sculptural work is clustered around its nine arched doors (portals);
- [More Gargoyles and Grotesques of Reims Cathedral](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/05/15/gargoyle-of-the-day-reims-cathedral-france-2/) - This gargoyle on Reims Cathedral seems to have had a head transplant some time since the Middle Ages! The concept is actually not that unusual, since centuries of running water often erode functioning gargoyles over time. It's difficult to tell from this photo if the replacement was done in metal or a differently-colored stone. Either way, the end result
- [St. Bernard and Gargoyles: A Fun Fact](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/04/04/st-bernard-and-gargoyles/) - 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.
- [A Guide to Romanticism](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/04/25/guide-romanticism/) - Learn about the different themes and stylistic attributes of Romanticism in painting, sculpture, and architecture.
- [The Oxen of Laon Cathedral](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/05/01/oxen-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.
- [Charles Meryon's "Le Stryge" (a Grotesque)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/09/10/charles-meryon-le-stryge-grotesque/) - Charles Méryon’s famous print depicting a grotesque on the façade of Notre-Dame de Paris is a big part of how this grotesque became so iconic.
- [Still Life Paintings by Anne Vallayer-Coster](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/12/19/still-life-paintings-by-anne-vallayer-coster/) - Anne Vallayer-Coster was an 18th-century French artist who specialized in still life. She was so good that she became official painter to Marie-Antoinette.
- [Art That Inspires Me: The Paintings of Paul Cézanne](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/05/06/art-that-inspires-me-the-paintings-of-paul-cezanne/) - In Cézanne: A Life, Alex Danchev claims that admirers of Cézanne's work can't really explain why they like it. Here, I've done my best to prove him wrong.
- [Art is a Tyrant: an Entertaining Biography of Rosa Bonheur](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2021/03/01/art-is-a-tyrant-rosa-bonheur/) - Art is a Tyrant: The Unconventional Life of Rosa Bonheur is Catherine Hewitt's really enjoyable new biography of French animal painter Rosa Bonheur.
- [Yearly Updates on the Notre-Dame de Paris Restoration](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2021/04/15/two-years-notre-dame/) - In 2019, a devastating fire ravaged Notre-Dame de Paris, the most iconic of all Gothic buildings. Find updates about the cathedral's current status here.
- [The Narbonne Cathedral Dog Gargoyle](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2022/01/16/narbonne-cathedral-dog-gargoyle/) - Enjoy this photo, sent in by a reader, of a Saint Bernard dog gargoyle from the cathedral of Saint-Just and Saint-Pasteur in Narbonne, France.
- [Louise Moillon  - a new book about an intriguing still life painter](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/01/26/louise-moillon/) - Louise Moillon, an upcoming book by art historian Lesley Stevenson, is about a 17th-century French painter with a short but intriguing career.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of All Saints' Church, Gresford, Wales](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/08/15/gargoyle-of-the-day-all-saints-church-gresford-wales/) - Here are some subtle and cheeky grotesques from All Saints Church in Gresford, Wales.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Sagrada Família, Barcelona, Spain](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/08/30/gargoyle-of-the-day-sagrada-familia-barcelona-spain/) - The Sagrada Família (Holy Family) is a Spanish church designed by Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) in the late nineteenth century. It is famous for the sheer exuberance of its design and the abundance of its architectural details. Gaudí's design was so elaborate, in fact, that the church is still incomplete today. I had never really thought
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques in Nicosia, Cyprus](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/09/06/gargoyle-of-the-day-nicosia-cyprus/) - Sometimes, I know in advance what I want to feature on Gargoyle of the Day; other times, I simply browse until something strikes my fancy. I might be inspired by an image I come across, or an idea might pique my interest, in which case I look for the most dynamic gargoyles in that category. Today, I saw
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennsylvania](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/09/13/gargoyle-of-the-day-eastern-state-penitentiary-pennsylvania/) - I probably should have saved this one for closer to Halloween, but I just couldn't wait because it's almost too good to be true. This very threatening-looking, shackled gargoyle can be found on the exterior of the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I'm not sure if the gargoyle is functional or not, but it
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Melrose Abbey, Scotland](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/09/27/gargoyle-of-the-day-melrose-abbey-scotland/) - I've recently been reading a book about the history of British myths and legends concerning dragons, so it made sense to me that today's gargoyle should be from the United Kingdom. I was looking for some sort of dragon-like gargoyle but fell in love with this bagpipe-playing pig instead. Isn't he charming? I found him via ferrebeekeeper's blog; look there
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques in Quito, Ecuador](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/04/gargoyle-of-the-day-quito-ecuador/) - You guys should know by now that I love non-European gargoyles, particularly when they take forms distinctly different from what we're used to seeing. These Ecuadorean gargoyles representing local wildlife certainly fit that bill. Above, we can see several species of bird gargoyles, and below are some other creatures including a pair of alligators. This post on
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Casa de las Conchas, Salamanca, Spain](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/11/08/gargoyle-of-the-day-casa-de-las-conchas-salamanca-spain/) - This little winged fellow looks like he's absolutely thrilled with his view from the roofline of the Casa de las Conchas in Salamanca, Spain. This late-fifteenth and early sixteenth-century building is named for its numerous shell-shaped decorations (concha is the Spanish word for shell) - symbols of the Spanish chivalric Order of Santiago de Compostela
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Borobudur Temple, Java](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/11/15/gargoyle-of-the-day-borobudur-temple-java-indonesia/) - Borobudur Temple is a massive Buddhist temple in Java, Indonesia. Built in the ninth century, Borobudur has a complex, tiered design and is richly decorated with hundreds of Buddha statues and thousands of relief-carved scenes depicting important Buddhist stories. It also has stupas and other sculpted imagery including gargoyles. Finding gargoyles, particularly functional gargoyles as these seem to be (rather than purely-decorative grotesques),
- [Grotesques of the Old Philadelphia Fire Department Headquarters](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/11/29/gargoyle-of-the-day-old-philadelphia-fire-department-headquarters/) - A fire house is one of the last places I would expect to see gargoyles, or even not-quite-three-dimensional grotesque carvings, but a set of six firefighter grotesques can be found on the old Race Street Firehouse in Philadelphia. These droll little figures wear old-fashioned fire hats and carry hoses. I believe that the numbers on the hats refer to
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of St. Vitus, Prague](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/06/gargoyle-of-the-day-st-vitus-prague/) - The rooster is one of early Italian St. Vitus's attributes, so it's quite fitting that a rooster gargoyle can be found on his beautiful Gothic church in Prague. Some people think that this figure depicts an eagle. I disagree, but I can understand how one might come to that conclusion without knowing about the saint's association to the rooster.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Tullgarns Slott, Södermanland, Sweden](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/13/gargoyle-of-the-day-tullgarns-slott-palace-sodermanland-sweden/) - Tullgarns Slott (Tullgarn Palace, in English) is an elegant summer palace of Swedish monarchy, built in the 1720s. Tullgarn is a mixture of several architectural styles and has beautiful wrought iron work, including these unusual-yet-functional gargoyles. The cream and peace Neo-Classical palace exterior (image below) hardly looks like someplace where one might find gargoyles, but here they are! I love
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Saint Louis](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/01/17/gargoyle-of-the-day-anheuser-busch-brewery-saint-louis-missouri/) - I don't come across either gargoyles or grotesques on commercial buildings very often in my research, which is why I so greatly appreciate them on the rare occasions that they do come along. You don't typically think of history and important architecture when someone mentions the word "Budweiser", but the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and headquarters in Saint Louis, Missouri is
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Hotel de Ville, Brussels](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/03/10/gargoyle-of-the-day-hotel-de-ville-bruxelles/) - Read about a part-fish gargoyle on the Hotel de Ville in Brussels.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of St. Giles High Kirk, Edinburgh](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/03/14/gargoyle-of-the-day-st-giles-high-kirk-of-edinburgh/) - My Facebook friend Sara requested gargoyles of the Scottish Highlands for my next gargoyle of the day. Unfortunately, I haven't had any luck tracking down photos of specifically Highland gargoyles. So many of the gorgeous churches out there are in such a state of ruin that in most cases, whatever gargoyles they may have once had
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of the Forbidden City, Beijing](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/03/15/gargoyle-of-the-day-forbidden-city-beijing/) - I bet you didn't see this one coming! We tend to associate gargoyles with the Gothic architecture of medieval Europe, but the idea of carving functional drain-spouts into the shapes of real or imagined creatures is not unique to Europe, Christianity, or the Middle Ages. Beijing's Forbidden City, a treasure-trove of animal statuary in all
- [Gargoyle and Grotesques of Casa de Las Gárgolas, Santiago, Chile](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/03/16/gargoyle-of-the-day-casa-de-las-gargolas-santiago-chile/) - I was scrolling through a set of gargoyle photos in order to find today's gargoyle, and I was a little surprised to find a category entitled "Gargoyles of Chile". This curious creature is from the Casa de Las Gárgolas (House of Gargoyles, since gárgola means gargoyle in Spanish) in Santiago. I didn't find much about
- [Gargoyle and Grotesques of St. John's Cathedral, 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/08/09/gargoyle-of-the-day-st-johns-cathedral-s-hertogenbosch-netherlands/) - Technically, these little fellows are grotesques rather than true gargoyles, but who cares when they're so charming? Apes, monkeys, and related creatures had rather poor connotations in the Middle Ages, symbolizing a variety of evils and sins including greed and lust, but this pair is depicted with a touching humanity nonetheless.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of The Britannia (527 West 110th Street), NYC](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/02/14/gargoyle-of-the-day-the-britannia-527-west-110th-street-new-york-city/) - The early-twentieth century Britannia apartment building on West 110th Street in New York City counts among its residents not just one or two, but at least six grotesques. The 1909 building by Waid & Willauer architects was hailed in its day for its welcoming and "homelike" aesthetic.(1) Accordingly, its grotesques are supposed to represent aspects of
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques: Onigawara](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/02/28/gargoyle-of-the-day-tokyo-university-of-the-arts/) - Relief-carved demon faces on the ends of ridge beams in traditional Japanese architecture, onigawara are fantastic examples of grotesques outside medieval Europe.
- [Grotesques of William Rainey Harper Memorial Library, Chicago](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/03/13/gargoyle-of-the-day-william-rainey-harper-memorial-library-chicago/) - I have recently become obsessed with gargoyles and grotesques who are reading. (Possibly I feel kinship to them.) While doing research on collegiate gargoyles and grotesques a few months ago, I realized how many colleges and universities have at least one sculpture of someone reading a book. Both people and animals are shown in this studious pursuit, and they are
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Hughes High School, Cincinnati](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/03/20/gargoyle-of-the-day-hughes-high-school-cincinnati/) - Continuing with last week's theme of academic gargoyles and grotesques, let's take a look at the grotesques of Hughes High School in Cincinnati. This grand building is home to over 90 grotesques representing a wide variety of subjects and skills relating to science, mechanics, fine arts, humanities, and liberal arts (1). Pictured above is the grotesque of athletics in the
- [Modern-day gargoyle carver Walter Arnold](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/04/03/gargoyle-of-the-day-modern-day-gargoyle-carver-walter-arnold/) - Not much is known about the medieval stone carvers responsible for the gargoyles and grotesques on Gothic edifices, but there are many equally-skilled and talented artists making gargoyles today. Walter S. Arnold is one such carver, and he has been making gargoyles, grotesques, and other stone statuary for a several decades. He created over ninety
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of the Pohjola Building, Helsinki](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/05/08/gargoyle-of-the-day-pohjola-building-helsinki-finland/) - The 1901 Pohjola building in Helsinki, Finland is decorated with many grotesques representing figures from Finland's mythology. The word "Pohjola" itself refers to a place in the myth Kalevala,which is Finland's national epic, and the people and animals on the building are presumably from that epic. Pohjola may also refer to the name of the insurance company
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of the Turnblad Mansion, Minneapolis](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/05/29/gargoyle-of-the-day-turnblad-mansion-minneapolis-usa/) - I belong to a wonderful group on Facebook called Mansions of the Gilded Age. Last month, I asked some of my fellow group members whether they knew of any gargoyles on Gilded Age homes. They came back with quite a few great examples, including the Turnblad Mansion in Minneapolis. Commissioned by Swedish-born newspaper publisher Swan Turnblad
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Buen Retiro Park, Madrid](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/06/05/gargoyle-of-the-day-buen-retiro-park-madrid/) - These gargoyles may not be on a building, but they are certainly serving their proper purpose. Located on the base of the Fountain of the Fallen Angel (Fuente del Ángel Caído) in Madrid's Buen Retiro Park, these eight devil figures spit water out of their mouths and the mouths of their reptilian pets. The statue, designed
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of the City College of New York](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/10/10/gargoyle-of-the-day-city-college-of-new-york/) - I freely admit that I haven't been great about posting gargoyles over the past few months, but I recently found a reader grotesque that I hadn't seen before, and it seems to have snapped me back into action. This scholarly fellow attends the City College of New York. I believe that he resides on the
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of City Museum, St. Louis, Missouri](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/10/23/gargoyle-of-the-day-city-museum-st-louis-missouri/) - According to the photographer's caption on flickr, this grotesque can be found at the City Museum in St. Louis, Missouri. Not being familiar with that particular institution but assuming it was an art museum, I searched online to figure out if this carving is a feature of the building or part of its collection. Instead, I
- [Winter in Switzerland by Jasper Cropsey (December 7th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/07/december-7th-winter-in-switzerland-by-jasper-francis-cropsey/) - Day seven of the Advent Calendar features a winter-themed landscape painting by Jasper Cropsey - a member of the Hudson River School.
- [View from Mount Holyoke (The Oxbow) by Thomas Cole](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/01/06/american-art-of-the-week-view-from-mount-holyoke-the-oxbow-by-thomas-cole/) - Romanticist and landscape painter Thomas Cole was born in England but came to success in New York in the 1820s. He was a founder of the so-called Hudson River School. View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm—The Oxbow, is among Cole's best-known works.
- [Hudson River School Day](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/09/04/hudson-river-school-day/) - Thomas Cole and Frederick Edwin Church, the two most prominent Hudson River School painters, both had homes and studios in the Catskill area of New York. One summer day, I went up there to visit the two houses, which are now museums open to the public for tours. This was my experience.
- [Thomas Cole's Journey: Atlantic Crossings](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/02/01/thomas-coles-journey-atlantic-crossings/) - Thomas Cole's Journey: Atlantic Crossings presents Cole within the landscape painting tradition of his native England. Find out why I loved the exhibition.
- [The Romance of the Mountains at the Newark Museum](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/05/07/romance-mountains-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).
- [Art That Inspires Me: Thomas Cole](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/11/12/art-that-inspires-me-thomas-cole/) - To talk about why I love Thomas Cole's work, I’ll focus on A Snow Squall (1825), one particular painting that I recently saw for the first time.
- [At Atlantic City by William Trost Richards](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/07/01/at-atlantic-city-william-trost-richards/) - This painting by Luminist William Trost Richards seems to show an otherworldly fairyland... but it actually depicts a casino town on the New Jersey shore.
- [The Landscape Paintings of Robert Duncanson](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/02/26/landscape-paintings-robert-duncanson/) - Robert Duncanson was an early Hudson River School painter in the United States and Canada. His work is gorgeous, but we don't talk much about him today.
- [The Past: Thomas Cole's imaginary tournament](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/10/19/the-past-thomas-coles-imaginary-tournament/) - Thomas Cole's The Past (1838) is a cheerful depiction of a medieval tournament. Here are my many thoughts on this delightful painting.
- [Susie M. Barstow - Redefining the Hudson River School](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/02/21/susie-barstow-book/) - Nancy Siegel's Susie M. Barstow: Redefining the Hudson River School is the first-ever biography of hugely under-rated artist, teacher, and adventurer.
- [Discover Your Artistic Taste](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/05/28/artistic-taste-one/) - Have you ever wondered about artistic taste - what it is, whether you have it, or what yours is? Learn to identify your unique artistic taste in this post.
- [Which Type of Art Lover are You?](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/08/19/art-lover-types/) - I came up with eight different art lover types based on my experiences and observations. Which one(s) do you identify with most?
- [Active Looking: the Most Important Skill for Every Art Lover](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/02/09/active-looking/) - In my opinion, active looking is the most important skill any art lover can possibly cultivate. Find out why it's important and how to practice it.
- [Seven Reasons to Study Art History](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/07/26/seven-reasons-to-study-art-history/) - I stumbled upon art history by accident and loved it, but here are some much better reasons to study this fascinating subject.
- [Visual Literacy: Art Appreciation in Everyday Life](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/04/29/visual-literacy/) - Visual literacy, the ability to think critically about images, is one of the most important life skills you can get by looking at art.
- [Nine Tips for Studying Art History on Your Own](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/01/13/seven-tips-for-studying-art-history-on-your-own/) - There are many resources but little guidance for those studying art history on their own. If art history is part of your personal curriculum, here’s how to get the most out of your study.
- [Surprising Places You Can See Art in Person](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/04/09/surprising-places-you-can-see-art-in-person/) - When you want to see art in person, art museums are the most obvious place to go. But they aren't your only option. Here are some surprising alternatives.
- [How to See Art In Person on a Budget](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/10/24/how-to-enjoy-art-absolutely-for-free/) - A tight budget doesn't have to mean a life without art. There are some places that you can enjoy works of art in person for free or at least at a discount. Includes a list of free art museums in the United States.
- [Tour Great Architecture from Anywhere](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/08/31/tour-architecture-comfort-home/) - While you can never truly experience a place from a screen, it's nice to have the option to see great architecture in 360 degrees from your couch.
- [Five subjects to help you understand art (besides art history)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/05/18/five-subjects/) - For the avid learners among my readers, discover five subject areas (besides art history) you can study to help you better understand art and architecture.
- [The Best Books for Learning Art History](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/04/05/the-best-books-for-learning-art-history/) - Looking for some reading material for your art history adventure? Let me recommend some great books (and a few online alternatives).
- [I'm So Delighted by the Newly Renovated Frick Collection](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2025/03/27/renovated-frick-collection/) - I attended a preview of the renovated Frick Collection in New York and was delighted by every aspect of it. Get all the details ahead of the Apr 17 opening.
- [Art Museums in (and near) London: my incomplete guide](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2025/12/10/art-museums-london/) - I'll spill the tea about five fantastic art museums in and near London, but it's just a fraction of the great art on view in this city.
- [Five Under-rated Art Museums in NYC](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/11/28/five-under-rated-art-museums-in-nyc/) - On your next trip to New York City, skip the big-museum madness and discover something new at one of these five lesser-known art museums.
- [Your Guide to Art Museums in Philadelphia](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/03/12/art-museums-philadelphia/) - The nation's original art capital, Philadelphia is home to some wonderful museums that don't get enough attention. Here are six of the best.
- [Boston's Top Art Museums](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/04/01/boston-art-museums/) - Boston's top art museums are the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. I believe any trip to this city should include both.
- [The Book Arts Treasures of the Chester Beatty Library](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/06/18/chester-beatty-library/) - The Chester Beatty Library is a museum of book arts in Dublin, Ireland. It has one of the most spectacular collections I have ever seen anywhere!
- [Trinity College Dublin and the Book of Kells](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/06/24/trinity-college-dublin-and-the-book-of-kells/) - Find out about my dream-come-true experience of seeing the Book of Kells in person at Trinity College Dublin!
- [Metalwork Marvels at the National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/06/28/national-museum-ireland/) - The National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology has a plethora of spectacular objects, including almost all of medieval Ireland's great metalwork treasures.
- [Glendalough: Remnants from the Age of Saints and Scholars](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/07/25/glendalough-remnants-from-the-age-of-saints-and-scholars/) - Glendalough, in Co. Wicklow, Ireland, is the site of an early medieval monastery that remains as picturesque ruins within a beautiful natural setting.
- [Ruins with a View: The Rock of Cashel](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/07/30/rock-of-cashel/) - The Rock of Cashel is a dramatic medieval Irish ruin on a hill above the plains of Co. Tipperary. It has five surviving buildings you can tour.
- [A Guide to Classical Greek Architecture](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/12/12/guide-classical-greek-architecture/) - Ancient or classical Greek architecture formed the basis for so much of Euro-American architecture. Learn about its main forms and ideas.
- [Medieval Knights in Art](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/04/14/medieval-knights-in-art/) - In this brief selection of knights in art from the 11th to 19th centuries, notice how images of medieval knights have changed throughout that time period.
- [A New Building and a New Perspective for the Princeton University Art Museum](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2025/10/22/new-princeton-university-art-museum/) - Not only does the Princeton University Art Museum have a great new building, but its fresh curatorial approach gives the museum a unique point of view. I am truly impressed by the transformation.
- [Encouragement for the Art Museum Shy](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/05/18/encouragement-for-the-art-museum-shy/) - Art museums can feel confusing and intimidating to newcomers. If those feelings prevent you from visiting one, read this post.
- [Three Reasons Why You Should Care About Architecture](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/08/29/three-reasons-architecture/) - Architecture just might be the most fascinating and meaningful branch of art history. In this post, you’ll find three reasons to learn about architecture.
- [How Viewing Art is Good for Your Mental Health](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2022/08/11/mental-health-benefits-art/) - Studies suggest that looking at art can increase happiness, decrease stress and anxiety, improve cognition, help us be mindful, and connect us to the past.
- [Be Good Looking (at art): Tips for Seeing Art in Museums](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/01/05/looking-at-artwork/) - If you've ever felt overwhelmed in an art museum, you're not alone. Here are a few things I've discovered about the best ways to see art in museums.
- [Why I Love Art (and You Will Too)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/06/02/why-i-love-art-and-you-will-too-art-appreciation-101/) - Here are twelve reasons to give art a try.
- [How to Look: Tips for Connecting with Art](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/03/14/art-appreciation-101-how-to-look/) - Try these tips, techniques, and challenges to help you connect with art at museum, galleries, and other places to see art in person.
- [Exhibition Review - Charles James: Beyond Fashion at the Met](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/07/28/exhibition-review-charles-james-beyond-fashion-at-the-metropolitan-museum-of-art/) - A review of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute's 2014 exhibit of gowns by Charles James.
- [Violet Oakley at the Woodmere Art Museum](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/01/24/violet-oakley-woodmere-art/) - Violet Oakley was a Philadelphia-area painter, illustrator, muralist, and designer. Find out what I learned about her at the Woodmere Art Museum.
- [William the Hippopotamus Makes a New Friend](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/02/02/william-hippopotamus-new-friend/) - The Met's famous mascot, William, gets paired with a 1936 adaptation by Carl Walters. As a William fan, I was so excited to see the two hippos together.
- [High Fashion on the High Altar: Heavenly Bodies at the Met](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/07/31/high-fashion-high-altar-heavenly-bodies/) - Heavenly Bodies is an exhibition of high fashion influenced by Catholicism. The fashion appears amongst works of medieval art at the Met and Met Cloisters.
- [A Magical Day at the New York Historical Society's Harry Potter: A History of Magic](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/11/05/magical-day-harry-potter-a-history-of-magic/) - Harry Potter: A History of Magic is an exhibition that puts the Harry Potter series in its historical and artistic context.
- [What Are Votives? They're Not Just Candles.](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/01/02/what-are-votives/) - When I saw Agents of Faith: Votive Objects in Time and Place, the show was almost over. Instead of writing a review, I’ll explain what votives are.
- [The World Between Two Empires: Ancient Middle Eastern Art at the Met](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/03/21/world-between-two-empires-middle-eastern/) - The World Between Two Empires shows beautiful and unusual Middle Eastern art and artifacts from about 100 BCE to 250 CE.
- [The Joys of the Dutch Golden Age](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/07/11/joys-dutch-golden-age/) - The long-term exhibition In Praise of Painting: Dutch Masterpieces at the Met gave me a new appreciation for the art of the Dutch Golden Age.
- [Alexander von Humboldt and the United States - A Video Tour and an Interview](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/06/03/alexander-von-humboldt-and-the-united-states/) - After a video tour of the Alexander von Humboldt exhibition at SAAM, I spoke to curator Dr. Eleanor Harvey Jones about Humboldt’s impact on American art.
- [My Review of the American Art Fair Online](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/10/10/american-art-fair-online/) - Here are my opinions about the virtual American Art Fair, including artworks that caught my eye and how the virtual experience compares to a live one.
- [Rembrandt Lost and Gained: Portrait of a Young Woman at the Allentown Art Museum](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2021/04/12/rembrandt-portrait-of-a-young-woman-allentown-art-museum/) - The Allentown Art Museum recently celebrated the addition of a Rembrandt painting to its collection. The catch? The museum has owned it for sixty years!
- [Van Gogh's Cypresses: 2023's Summer Blockbuster](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/08/18/van-goghs-cypresses/) - This summer, everyone is talking about the Van Gogh's Cypresses exhibition at the Met in NYC. I recently saw the exhibition and had a really nice time.
- [Fashioned by Sargent - a meeting of the masterpieces](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/12/14/fashioned-by-sargent/) - This spectacular exhibition at the MFA Boston includes 50 major John Singer Sargent oil portraits alongside some of the clothing portrayed in them.
- [How to Have a Great Museum Visit](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/06/22/how-to-have-a-great-museum-visit-art-appreciation-101/) - It's great to look at art online, but nothing beats seeing it up close at a museum. For the best possible museum-going experience, plan ahead. Here are some things to keep in mind.
- [A Review of the Morgan Library and Museum](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/01/04/review-morgan-library/) - My experience at the Morgan Library and Museum, a New York City museum of rare books and manuscripts, works on paper, and other small treasures.
- [A Review of the Zimmerli Art Museum](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/01/23/review-zimmerli-art-museum/) - The Zimmerli Art Museum is located on Rutgers's New Brunswick campus. The museum holds a large collection of Soviet Nonconformist art, among other things.
- [A Review of the Yale University Art Gallery](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/02/06/review-yale-university-art-gallery/) - The Yale University Art Gallery is home to a world-class art collection. It's free to the public and highly recommended for art lovers of all sorts.
- [Save Yourself from Museum Fatigue](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/02/13/museum-fatigue/) - Museum fatigue is what happens when you overwhelm yourself during a museum visit. It can happen to anyone. Here are some ways to deal with it.
- [Strategies for Visiting the Met](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/02/15/strategies-visiting-met/) - The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is one of the world's largest art museums. Consider one of these strategies for planning your visit.
- [A Review of the Montclair Art Museum](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/02/24/review-montclair-art-museum/) - The Montclair Art Museum in New Jersey is a small museum focused on American art. Learn why I enjoy it and what I saw on my most recent visit.
- [Enjoying Museum Surprises](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/05/18/fun-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.
- [A Review of the Newark Museum](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/06/01/review-newark-museum/) - The Newark Museum in Newark, NJ is possibly the most under-rated museum ever. It has a fabulous collection and is just a short train ride from Manhattan.
- [An Oasis in New York City: The Frick Collection](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/06/28/oasis-frick-collection/) - The Frick Collection is one of my favorite museums. In addition to a world-class art collection, it's also a calm oasis in the middle of New York City.
- [Art at Vassar: The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/07/23/art-at-vassar-the-frances-lehman-loeb-art-center/) - The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center on the Vassar campus contains a little bit of everything, but its claim to fame is its Hudson River School paintings.
- [Unexpected Treasures at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/10/18/virginia-museum-of-fine-arts/) - The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts includes the McGlothlin collection of American art, the Gans collection of English silver, and works by Faberge.
- [The Beautiful Things of Hillwood Estate](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/10/20/beautiful-things-hillwood/) - Hillwood Estate in Washington D.C. was the treasure-filled home of hostess, philanthropist, and art collector Marjorie Merriweather Post.
- [How to Enjoy an Art Museum When You Didn't Study Art](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/11/27/how-to-enjoy-an-art-museum-when-you-didnt-study-art/) - For anyone who's ever felt frustrated or unsure in an art museum, here are a few strategies to make museum visits more enjoyable and fulfilling.
- [Why Museums Don't Display All the Art They Own? (and Related Questions)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/12/06/why-museums-dont-display-all-the-art-they-own/) - Somebody recently asked me why most museums display only a small portion of their collections. Here are my answers to that and some related questions.
- [Highlights at the Wadsworth Athenaeum](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/01/29/highlights-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.
- [Exploring Buddhist Art at the Rubin Museum of Art](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/06/24/exploring-buddhist-art-at-the-rubin-museum/) - The Rubin Museum of Art in New York City is all about Himalayan art – works with religion and symbolism very different from what most of us are used to.
- [The Hyde Collection - Masterpieces in the Adirondacks](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/08/02/hyde-collection/) - The Hyde Collection is the most delightful little surprise - a world-class art collection in the unassuming Adirondack town of Glens Falls, NY.
- [Frick Madison Shines New Light on Old Friends](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2021/03/05/frick-madison/) - I was one of the first people to enjoy Frick Madison, whose combination of old art and modern architecture literally shines new light on beloved artworks.
- [A Review of the Walters Art Museum](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/06/26/review-walters-art-museum/) - I recently spent a few hours at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. It’s one of the best art collections you can see for free in the United States.
- [Art Meets Nature at Grounds for Sculpture](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/05/31/art-meets-nature-at-grounds-for-sculpture/) - Grounds for Sculpture, a large outdoor museum and garden in Hamilton, NJ, offers an experience unlike anything I'd encountered before.
- [Cool Jobs in Art History](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2024/05/10/jobs-in-art-history/) - This post dispels the myth that there aren't any jobs for art history majors and explains some job titles you may encounter during your art adventures.
- [How to Have a Great Historic Site Visit](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/06/27/great-historic-site-visit/) - Planning to visit a historic place? Learn what to expect and how to plan for the best visit ever.
- [The War of Art: A John Singer Sargent Fun Fact](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/04/15/war-of-art-john-singer-sargent/) - In the unusual case of Sargent's portrait of the Pailleron siblings, animosity between the artist and sitter made for surprisingly effective painting.
- [Gargoyles and Grotesques of Biltmore](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/10/15/gargoyles-grotesques-biltmore/) - Biltmore is full of gargoyles and grotesques. Enjoy some of the creatures I spotted during my trip there.
- [A Guide to Medieval Irish Art](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/03/21/celtic-art-and-irish-heritage/) - Most people are familiar with Irish art through the famous Book of Kells and through Celtic Revival motifs popular today. In this article, you’ll learn about medieval Irish artistic motifs, the types of art most likely to survive from the period, key historical context (including why Irish and Celtic aren’t synonyms), and more.
- [The Book of Kells - Day 1](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/01/the-book-of-kells-day-one-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - It only seems appropriate to start off 31 Days of Medieval Manuscripts with the Book of Kells, arguably the world's most iconic illuminated manuscript.
- [What's So Special About the Book of Kells?](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/10/22/whats-so-special-about-the-book-of-kells/) - I hear a lot of confusion about The Book of Kells, which is apparently not as well-known as I thought. Let me explain what it is and why it's so special.
- [A Guide to Islamic Art](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/09/07/guide-islamic-art/) - Discover the fascinating group of styles we call Islamic art. It’s a wide-ranging area, not a closed group with a set of singular characteristics.
- [What Is an Art Historian?](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/01/16/what-is-an-art-historian/) - Simply put, an art historian is someone who studies and interprets historical art and architecture. Find out more in this article.
- [Santa Claus according to Thomas Nast (December 2nd)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/02/december-2nd-santa-claus-according-to-thomas-nast/) - The image of Santa Claus is pretty much omnipresent in the month of December, but how many people actually know where it comes from? Santa has his origins in numerous characters from the myths, legends, and stories of many different cultures; Saint Nicholas is his best-known but not only antecedent. As such, Santa Claus takes many diverse forms and personalities
- [Skating Carnival Montreal by William Notman (December 9th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/09/december-9th-skating-carnival-montreal-by-william-notman/) - I've seen this image before, in a book about ice skating history. This work by Scottish-Canadian photographer William Notman (1826-1891) depicts an elaborate gala at Montreal's Victoria Rink in 1870. The event was to honor Prince Albert of the UK. It looks like a painting or print, but it's actually a colored albumen photographic print. I can't get
- [The Magi by Joseph Binder (December 11th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/11/december-11th-the-magi-by-joseph-binder/) - I looked at a lot of Magi/Three Wise Men paintings today, but something about this one particularly stood out for me. It is by Austrian artist Joseph Binder (1798–1864). I think it's a combination of things - the clarity of the image, the colors (particularly the blues in the sky), the varying reactions of the
- [Santa with Elves by Norman Rockwell (December 12th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/12/december-12th-santa-with-elves-by-norman-rockwell/) - Painter and The Saturday Evening Post illustrator Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) is beloved in the United States for his images of American life during and after World War Two - soldiers, Boy Scouts, school children, mid-twentieth century family life, and, of course, Santa Claus. My family owns an entire set of Christmas ornaments featuring his Santas in a variety of scenes at rest, work, and
- [Ball at the Russian Imperial Court (December 13th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/13/december-13th-ball-at-the-russian-imperial-court-by-dmitry-kardovsky/) - If you are seeing this (and I set the timer correctly), it means I am currently at a holiday ball. I figured the Advent Calendar should get in on the action, too. Interestingly, it is far easier to get a ticket to a glamorous and elegant holiday party than an artistic representation of one. It took me
- [The Nutcracker scenery by Konstantin Ivanov (December 15th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/15/december-15th-the-nutcracker-scenery-by-konstantin-ivanov/) - Two sketches by Konstantin Ivanov showing his scenic designs for the famous Nutcracker ballet's first-ever production, which took place in Russia in 1892.
- [A Still Life by Johanna Helena Looisen (December 20th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/20/december-20th-still-life-with-christmas-pudding-holly-and-wine-by-johanna-helena-looisen/) - Today's painting, Still Life with Christmas Pudding, Holly and Wine, is my first Advent Calendar work by a female artist. I wasn't specifically looking for a work by a female painter today, just as I wasn't intentionally avoiding female artists for the first nineteen days. I'm featuring the painting because I love it; it's compelling for
- [Christkindlmarkt Am Hof by Carl Wenzel Zajicek (December 23rd)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/23/december-23rdchristkindlmarkt-am-hof-by-carl-wenzel-zajicek/) - For an art historical Advent calendar, a beautiful, snow-filled painting of a Viennese Christmas market by Austrian painter Carl Wenzel Zajicek.
- [Gargoyles in Pop Culture: Pick Five](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/08/05/gargoyles-in-pop-culture-pick-five/) - Recently, while establishing a Pinterest account for A Scholarly Skater, I did a search for the keyword “gargoyle” and came across some pretty unusual stuff. I’ve searched for that term often enough times to know that there are plenty of twentieth and twenty-first century gargoyles out there. They occasionally appear on buildings, which I’ve talked
- [Writing Prompt #17: Basilique Royale de Saint-Denis](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/07/02/basilique-royale-de-saint-denis-wordpress-writing-101-prompt-17/) - Today’s prompt didn’t particularly interest me or feel like a good fit for this blog, but the additional challenge was to write in a style different from my usual one, which I liked a lot. I like my writing to flow and include lots of description; I never skimp on the words. Therefore, I decided
- [Writing Prompt #3 - thoughts on art](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/06/15/wordpress-writing-101-prompt-3-thoughts-on-art/) - Today's prompt told me to write stream of conscious for at least 15 minutes in order to develop a habit of writing every day. The topic I was given was to write about three songs that affect me and how they make me feel. I did the assignment and was pleased with what I wrote,
- [Writing Prompt #7: Contrast, Controversy, and the Cloisters Cross](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/06/20/wordpress-writing-101-prompt-7-contrast-controversy-and-the-cloisters-cross/) - Today’s prompt told me to write about a contrast between two things. The first idea that came to mind for me was contrasting points of view or interpretations. Have you ever been in a situation where you and someone else experienced the exact same thing at the exact same time, yet both of you were
- [Writing Prompt #8: Evocative Worlds in the Metropolitan Museum of Art](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/06/20/wordpress-writing-101-prompt-8-evocative-worlds-in-the-metropolitan-museum-of-art/) - Today’s prompt involves describing a place with the added challenge of doing so without using adverbs. The prompt specifies that I go to a place and describe it while I’m there, but I will describe someplace from memory because the weather is crummy, I competed this morning, and I have no desire to go back
- [Writing Prompt #9: What Manet's Girls Saw](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/06/21/wordpress-writing-101-prompt-9-what-manets-girls-saw/) - For today's prompt about writing from a different point of view, I decided to describe a work of art from the perspective of a figure depicted in the work. I have chosen Edouard Manet's Railroad (Gare St-Lazare) at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., a painting noted for its opaque psychology, unclear narrative, and
- [Why I'm a fan of preservation and "Preservation" magazine](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/02/09/why-im-a-fan-of-preservation-and-preservation-magazine/) - In one of the first philanthropic acts of my grown-up life, I recently joined the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a non-profit organization that provides funding and support for the protection and restoration of historical landmarks throughout the United States. As a membership benefit, I just received my first issue (Winter 2015) of Preservation magazine in the
- [A Strange Connection](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/08/07/a-strange-connection/) - I've always seen parallels between Indian or Southeast Asian and ancient Egyptian statuary. The styles, poses, clothing, and modes of representation all seem very similar to me, yet no one has ever been able to give me a satisfactory explanation as to why. When I was at the Met last week, I saw the Lost Kingdoms:
- [Fantastic Beasts (Oh Look, I Found One)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/08/17/fantastic-beasts-oh-look-i-found-one/) - Harry Potter fans (such as myself) will certainly enjoy this basilisk grotesque carved into the façade of Amiens Cathedral in France. It is interesting that the basilisk (or cockatrice) of medieval legend looks almost nothing like the one described in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, but its other characteristics and the deadly effects
- [Art Crimes Awareness: Ebay and the Modern Forger](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/08/23/art-crimes-awareness-ebay-and-the-modern-forger/) - The Monuments Men Foundation for Art the Preservation of Art's facebook page, which by the way is one of the best resources out there for information about cultural heritage advocacy, recently linked to this article from The Daily Beast about art forgery on eBay. My first reaction was that anyone who thinks they're going to buy a Picasso on eBay
- [B.A Shapiro's "The Art Forger: A Novel" - a personal reaction](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/07/04/b-a-shapiros-the-art-forger-a-novel-more-a-personal-reaction-than-a-review/) - My reaction to B.A. Shapiro's The Art Forger, a novel about a fictional young art forger and the real-life Isabella Stewart Gardner heist of 1990.
- [The Art Deco Murals of Hildreth Meière](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/05/05/the-art-deco-murals-of-hildreth-meiere/) - I briefly read about Art Deco designer Hildreth Meière last time I did work on Art Deco. I remember thinking it was cool and unusual that a female artist was responsible for some of the decoration in many of New York’s most significant Art Deco monuments, but I had no idea how cool she really was until I
- [Book Review: Figure Skating and the Arts, Eight Centuries of Sport and Inspiration](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/05/13/book-review-figure-skating-and-the-arts-eight-centuries-of-sport-and-inspiration/) - When my new boss found out that I'm a figure skater, the first thing he said was "I have a book you really need to see." That book is Figure Skating and the Arts, Eight Centuries of Sport and Inspiration. After locating it amidst the vast inventory of books we work with, he gave it to
- [William Shakespeare's Dictionary (or not?)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/05/21/william-shakespeares-dictionary-or-not/) - My boss just brought this news item from last month to my attention. It seems that two book dealers in New York City have stumbled upon what they believe may be William Shakespeare's dictionary, complete with annotations and markings by the Bard himself. If that is true, it would be very exciting indeed! I would
- [Camel Grazing at Mosque by Louis Comfort Tiffany](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/03/16/american-art-of-the-week-camel-grazing-at-mosque-by-louis-comfort-tiffany/) - Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) is world famous for his works in stained glass and other decorative arts, as well as for founding Tiffany Studios. However, did you also know that he was an accomplished painter? While that doesn't come as a complete surprise to me, of course, I had never really focused on that fact until one
- [Girl with Japanese Lanterns by Everett Shinn](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/04/06/american-art-of-the-week-girl-with-japanese-lanterns-by-everett-shinn/) - There's something so beautifully mysterious about this painting by Ashcan School artist Everett Shinn (1876-1953). I think it's the contrast between the dark background and bright lights from the lanterns, combined with the loose, painterly brushwork making up the main shapes. You get just enough sense of the scene to be draw in by it, but details of
- [Etretat by Henry A. Bacon](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/04/27/american-art-of-the-week-etretat-by-henry-a-bacon/) - Right now, the weather is pretty crummy where I live, so I definitely picked this painting for reasons of escapism. I also thought it was a watercolor until I read the description. I'm always amazed by oil paintings that manage to convey something of watercolor's characteristic lightness. Henry A. Bacon (1839-1912) was an American painter
- [Houston Street by George Luks](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/06/02/american-art-of-the-week-houston-street-by-george-luks/) - George Luks (1866-1933) was an American social realist painter. He is known best for his images of New York City, specifically its working-class and immigrant neighborhoods, and his energetic style seems to suit these scenes' vibrancy perfectly. He also studied and painted in Europe. Along with fellow American painters of urban life, Luks was part of the
- [An Art Quote for the Quote Challenge](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/10/17/an-art-quote-for-the-quote-challenge/) - The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls. - Pablo Picasso Thanks to Belinda O. and her excellent taste in quotations, I was inspired to find and post a meaningful quote relating to the theme of my blog. This one is both relevant and true. No matter your preferred medium
- [My Experience Seeing a Live Painting Demonstration](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/01/31/my-experience-seeing-a-live-painting-demonstration/) - Last Sunday afternoon (January 29th), I had the opportunity to see a live painting demonstration. This was exciting because I had never before watched a painting be made right in front of me. I met Gerard Amsellem, one of the two artists involved, at a studio tour event last fall. He and his friend/frequent collaborator Mikel Frank reached
- [Skating Through Time on a Snow Day](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/02/09/skating-through-time-on-a-snow-day/) - Snow day! Who doesn't love those words? Here in the northeastern United States, we are currently having a nice snow day, which makes it seem like a perfect time to do the second part of the winter paintings series I started around Christmas time. While part one was about winter landscapes, part two is about ice skating paintings!
- [Historic Places Photo Gallery](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/02/19/historic-places-photo-gallery/) - I love old places, and I try to visit them wherever I go. This gallery shows some of the historic places I've visited recently. If you like my photos, you might also be interested in my other posts on the subject. What beautiful old places are there where you live? Send me some pictures so
- [The Elms (My Newport Adventures)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/08/02/the-elms/) - The Elms was the first mansion I saw on my first day in Newport, and it was the perfect way to start my trip. The home was built in 1901 for Edward and Herminie Berwind, who made their fortune in the coal industry. It was later occupied by Edward's sister Julia. The house was designed by Horace Trumbauer of Philadelphia and decorated by Jules Allard and Sons of Paris.
- [Marble House (My Newport Adventures)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/08/03/marble-house/) - The Marble House (completed in 1892) was designed by Alva Vanderbilt, who was then the wife of William K. Vanderbilt. The house was designed by Richard Morris Hunt with decoration by Jules Allard and Sons. The Marble House is definitely over the top, yet it feels strangely accessible because none of the rooms are particularly large. Despite the gilt, brocade, and ornamentation, its scale gives a human feeling
- [Chateau-sur-Mer (My Newport Adventures)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/08/08/chateau-sur-mer-my-newport-adventures/) - Chateau-sur-Mer is probably the most Victorian of all houses in Newport. It was owned by William Shepard Wetmore, who made his fortune trading with then-exotic China. When it was built in 1852 - long before the big four - it was one of the most famous houses in Newport. William's son, George Peabody Wetmore, inherited it in 1862, and he had
- [The Breakers (My Newport Adventures)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/08/12/the-breakers-my-newport-adventures/) - The Breakers is the crown jewel of Newport, and it's totally crazy to experience. Cornelius Vanderbilt II, who owned the house with his wife Alice, clearly saw himself as a grand Renaissance prince. The Breakers was designed to look like an Italian Renaissance palace by Richard Morris Hunt and completed in 1895.
- [Kingscote (My Newport Adventures)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/08/14/kingscote-my-newport-adventures/) - Kingscote was owned by George Nobel Jones, and then several generations of the King family (who obviously gave it the name). The home was built in 1841 but substantially enlarged in the 1880s for the Kings. The original house was designed by Richard Upjohn, and the addition was by McKim, Mead, and White. Kingscote is large and impressive,
- [Newport Wrap-Up](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/08/17/and-so-much-more-my-newport-adventures/) - If you've read all my posts in this series, you've officially been introduced to every Newport mansion I visited. (But not every Newport mansion, since unfortunately I didn't get to visit two of them.) But my Newport adventure wasn't entirely mansion tours. There's lots else to see and do in town. The Redwood Library and Athenaeum is
- [John Singer Sargent](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/11/06/john-singer-sargent/) - An article about Sargent's portraits and thoughts on Strapless, a book about Sargent and Madame X.
- [The Hidden Colors of Antiquity](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/05/17/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.
- [Colorful Travels with Victoria Finlay](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/05/29/colorful-travels-victoria-finlay/) - Victoria Finlay travelled across the world to research historical sources of color. Her book is full of surprising and sometimes alarming facts.
- [The Jefferson Hotel, Where Gators Once Roamed](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/10/19/jefferson-hotel/) - The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia opened in 1895. It has been renovated several times since, and it's decorated in a luxurious, eclectic style.
- [Lyndhurst at Christmastime](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/12/11/lyndhurst-at-christmastime/) - Over the weekend, I visited Lyndhurst, a 19th-century Gothic Revival mansion in Tarrytown, NY, to take the delightful Christmas tour.
- [Have a Sublime Halloween](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2021/10/30/sublime/) - Enjoy a few of my favorite Sublime landscape paintings, which are definitely frightening enough for Halloween.
- [Beginner-Friendly Art Styles: Suggestions for New Museum Visitors](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/01/24/beginner-friendly-art-styles/) - 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.
- [Art That Inspires Me: Cycladic Figurines](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/11/02/cycladic-figurines/) - I've always loved ancient Cycladic figurines - little marble statues depicting stylized human figures. They can be found in most major museums.
- [New Year's Night by Julius Kronberg (December 17th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/17/december-17th-new-years-night-by-julius-johann-ferdinand-kronberg/) - A mysterious painting of a figure in the midnight snow on New Year's Eve, by Swedish Symbolist Julius Johann Ferdinand Kronberg. For a fine art Advent Calendar.
- [Anna Hyatt Huntington's Joan of Arc](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/01/26/a-female-hero-memorialized-in-bronze-by-a-female-artist/) - The story of Anna Hyatt Huntington's Joan of Arc, a monumental bronze equestrian sculpture in Riverside Park, New York City.
- [My visit to Lyndhurst, an American castle](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/06/29/my-visit-to-lyndhurst-an-american-castle/) - Lyndhurst is an huge house in Tarrytown, New York. It was home to politician William Paulding, businessman George Merritt, and finally Gilded Age industrialist Jay Gould and his family. Lyndhurst has incredible Gothic Revival architecture, stained glass windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany and John LaFarge, and great furniture.
- [Kip's Castle - My Visit to a New Jersey Mansion](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/01/22/kips-castle-my-visit-to-a-new-jersey-mansion/) - Updated with news photos from my Christmas 2017 visit to Kip's Castle. Click on the photo gallery below! I recently took some time to visit a local landmark - Kip’s Castle in Verona, New Jersey. The former home of textile industrialist Frederic Ellsworth Kip and his family, Kip's Castle is a sprawling stone mansion at the very top
- [Where in the world is this place? Not where you might think.](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/05/24/where-in-the-world-is-this-place-not-where-you-might-think/) - The house pictured above might look like an English manor house or a French chateau, but it is actually a country estate near where I live in the United States. I went to visit this turn-of-the-century Beaux Arts mansion one day this past week. The home is now privately-owned and no longer decorated according to the
- [An Unusual Take on Gargoyles](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/04/07/an-unusual-take-on-gargoyles/) - I recently finished reading Thomas Cahill's How the Irish Saved Civilization, The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe. My prior training in medieval art history had addressed the importance of the medieval Irish and Scottish monastic establishment on Western European cultural history, so the
- [Meet Swedish Portraitist Anders Zorn](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/02/20/meet-swedish-portraitist-anders-zorn/) - Isabella Stewart Gardner by Anders Zorn, 1894. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston. Next up in what is becoming a recurring series of featured artists is Anders Zorn. Zorn is very interesting, and not just because his name is so much fun to say. This Swedish artist was a favorite of the great early-twentieth century American
- [An Epiphany about Gargoyles](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/02/10/an-epiphany-about-gargoyles/) - When I was in New York City for the Winter Antiques Show (subject of my most recent marathon post), I decided to engage in a little gargoyle hunt on my way to and from the Armory. I looked up at each building I passed in hopes of seeing little faces peering back at me from on
- [A Visitor's Guide to the Winter Antiques Show](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/02/08/a-visitors-guide-to-the-winter-antiques-show/) - This is an exciting time of year. No, not because of my birthday, though it was that last week as well. The end of January and beginning of February mark the annual Winter Antiques Show, which this year ran from January 24th to February 2nd. For those of you who don't know, the Winter Antiques
- [Snow in New York, the Contemporary Version](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/02/02/snow-in-new-york-the-contemporary-version/) - Since my post about Guy C. Wiggins, I have started discovering snowy New York cityscapes by other painters. Here are two contemporary artists who share Wiggins's love of New York in the wintertime: Mark Daly (b. 1956) describes himself is an American Impressionist. He primarily paints landscapes set throughout the country and sometimes overseas as
- [Snow falls softly on the city: the paintings of Guy C. Wiggins](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/01/29/snow-falls-softly-on-the-city-the-paintings-of-guy-c-wiggins/) - In late 2020, Questroyal Fine Art, one of the best galleries for American paintings, asked me to write a guest post for its blog. I chose to talk about the gallery's recent acquisition - a New York City snow scene called Winter at 57th St and 5th Avenue by Guy C. Wiggins. I love Wiggins's
- [A Selection of Watercolors by John Singer Sargent](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/01/10/a-selection-of-watercolors-by-john-singer-sargent/) - In addition to his portraits, John Singer Sargent painted many, many watercolors. They often depicted landscapes and other scenes he had observed during his travels in Europe, America, and the Middle East.
- [A grotesque for the National Guard](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/12/17/a-grotesque-for-the-national-guard/) - I saw this rather dignified-looking lion on the exterior of the National Guard armory where I attended a trade show a few days ago. He and his brother (not pictured) seem to keep watch and maintain order in the no parking zone below.
- [More Academic Grotesques](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/12/10/more-academic-grotesques/) - Look at all these charming little faces! A chorus of grotesques holds up a window sill on this pretty stone academic building. These photos were taken by my little sister munchkin, Amira M., who says she passes them on her way to English class. In the photo below, you can see that the window is
- [Kykuit: Home of the Rockefellers](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/05/31/kykuit-home-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.
- [My review of David Day's The World of Tolkien: Mythological Sources of The Lord of the Rings](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/12/31/i-want-to-be-a-tolkienologist-my-review-of-david-days-the-world-of-tolkien-mythological-sources-of-the-lord-of-the-rings/) - The fact that it is still December and I'm already writing a review of a book I got for Christmas should tell you everything you need to know about how wonderful this book was. David Day's The World of Tolkien: Mythological Sources of The Lord of the Rings. (New York: Chartwell Books, Inc., 2013) is a 184-page-long,
- [Art That Inspires Me: El Anatsui](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/11/14/el-anatsui/) - El Anatsui is a Nigerian artist who creates beautiful, tapestry-like artworks out of trashed materials like bottle caps and scrap metal.
- [Some Musings on the Meaning of Gargoyles](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/12/02/some-musings-on-the-meaning-of-gargoyles/) - The more I read about gargoyles, the more I am starting to think that there is no single right answer to the question of their existence. Even if you only consider medieval European gargoyles, there is too much diversity (in style, subject matter, etc.) for any universal interpretation to be truly convincing. In fact, it
- [Gargoyles Go to College](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/12/09/gargoyles-go-to-college/) - Discover the grotesques of the University of Chicago.
- [Recommended Link: Historic Hotels of America](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/12/14/recommended-link-historic-hotels-of-america/) - I get really excited about historic hotels, and I've even stayed in a few.
- [More Gargoyles](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/11/18/more-gargoyles/) - Discover a pair of grotesques inspired by classic movies, alongside some cool Mexican-inspired ones.
- [Gargoyles galore!!!](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/11/13/gargoyles-galore/) - A brief introduction to my fascination with gargoyles and grotesques.
- [Demons in Pen and Ink](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/11/16/demons-in-pen-and-ink/) - Cover image: Jean Pucelle, The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux, ca. 1324–28. Folios 154v-155r, The Miracle of the Breviary. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cloisters Collection, New York. In one of my last posts, I promised that I would talk about non-architectural grotesques. So meet the Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux, a fourteenth-century illustrated French prayer book
- [The First Bit of My Gargoyle Research](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/11/22/the-first-bit-of-my-gargoyle-research/) - A few fun facts I learned while reading about gargoyles and grotesques.
- [The Gargoyles of Princeton University](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/11/25/the-gargoyles-of-princeton-university/) - Meet the gargoyles of Princeton University.
- [An Old Dutch Skating Painting](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/01/26/an-old-dutch-skating-painting/) - A pair of paintings from the Rijksmuseum collection show the popularity of outdoor ice skating in the history of the Netherlands.
- [Welcome to my new blog!](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/11/05/welcome-to-my-new-blog/) - Hi everyone! I'm Alexandra, and this is my art history blog. Thanks for reading.
- [Epic Bookstores and Libraries](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2013/12/22/epic-bookstores-and-libraries/) - Presenting sixteen libraries and sixteen bookstores you have to see before you die. How amazing are these places? They are all so incredible that I tried to write more about them, but I couldn't pick just a few to talk about. I could barely even figure out which ones I should include photos of. I
- [Ask the Scholarly Skater](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/07/06/ask-the-scholarly-skater-1-your-art-questions-answered/) - Cover image: Duccio di Buoninsegna, The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew, 1308-1311. National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. (CC0) I recently polled my Facebook friends about their burning art-related questions. I got four great questions, for which I hope I gave four good answers. Do you have an art question you want answered?
- [A New Graphic Novel Introduces Edmonia Lewis](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/09/13/graphic-novel-edmonia-lewis/) - As a big fan of 19th-century sculptor Edmonia Lewis, I was excited to find out that she's now the subject of a new graphic novel, Seen: Edmonia Lewis.
- [The Sleeve Should Be Illegal - A Unique New Book from the Frick](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/12/08/the-sleeve-should-be-illegal-frick/) - The Sleeve Should Be Illegal is a book of essays responding to works in the Frick’s collection. I received an early copy and really enjoyed it.
- [Cocktails with a Curator, the Book](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2022/09/14/cocktails-with-a-curator-the-book/) - Cocktails with a Curator (2022) is the book version of the Frick Collection's wildly-popular 2020-21 video series of the same title.
- [Book Review: The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/07/27/lost-van-gogh-jonathan-santlofer/) - Jonathan Santlofer's The Lost Van Gogh is a new novel about a self-portrait by Vincent Van Gogh. Find out what I thought of the book before its release.
- [A Rainy Day at Monticello](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/10/08/rainy-day-monticello/) - Founding Father Thomas Jefferson designed his home, Monticello, in Charlottesville, VA. I visited on a very rainy September day as part of my vacation.
- [The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/12/07/stickley-museum-craftsman-farms/) - A short account of my Christmastime visit to the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms. It was the home of American designer and entrepreneur Gustav Stickley.
- [This Stuff's Expensive: A Fun Fact About Colors](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/04/02/this-stuffs-expensive-fun-fact-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?
- [A Wearable Religious Painting from Ethiopia](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/03/25/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.
- [Why You Should Visit Art Galleries](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/02/03/art-galleries/) - Art galleries provide free opportunities to see art in person, and they are generally a lot less intimidating than you might think.
- [A Guide to Romanesque Architecture](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/02/03/guide-romanesque-architecture/) - Romanesque was a style of medieval architecture popular in Western Europe in the 1000s and 1100s. Here's everything you need to know about Romanesque.
- [A Guide to Gothic Architecture](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/10/17/a-guide-to-gothic-architecture/) - Gothic (and Gothic-style) abound in church architecture around the world. But what exactly are its characteristics? Learn the stylistic attributes and historical context of Gothic architecture.
- [The Milkmaid by Winslow Homer](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/02/03/american-art-of-the-week-the-milkmaid-by-winslow-homer/) - I think we've established my great love of the American Impressionists in recent weeks, so it's time for something different. Winslow Homer (1836-1910) was a nineteenth-century American painter who worked in a more naturalistic style. He painted many New England landscapes, seascapes, and scenes of rural life.
- [Christmas-Time, the Blodgett Family (December 19th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/19/december-19th-christmas-time-the-blodgett-family-by-eastman-johnson/) - Eastman Johnson, Christmas-Time, The Blodgett Family, 1864. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. It's very difficult to find genre paintings (scenes of everyday life) with Christmas settings. I assume that's because the Christmas traditions we are familiar with today have only come into being relatively recently when compared with the entire the history of art. I had
- [Flight into Egypt by Henry Ossawa Tanner (December 5th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/05/december-5th-flight-into-egypt-by-henry-ossawa-tanner/) - Henry Ossawa Tanner, Flight Into Egypt, 1923. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. When I decided I wanted to do a flight into Egypt painting today, I expected to pick a famous one. This common subject for religious paintings, involving Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus fleeing their persecutors on the back of a donkey has been represented by artists such
- [Late Afternoon, New York, Winter (December 4th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/04/december-4th-late-afternoon-new-york-winter-by-childe-hassam/) - Frederick Childe Hassam, Late Afternoon, New York, Winter, 1900. Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 62.68. I think we've already established how much I love paintings of New York City in the snow, since I've written two previous posts on the topic (Snow falls softly on the city: the paintings of Guy C. Wiggins and Snow in
- [The Fascinating World of Medieval Graffiti](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/07/20/medieval-graffiti-is-like-candy-to-this-researcher/) - In 2014, I was briefly fascinated with the recent discovery of medieval graffiti in English churches. Read a lengthy article on the topic I originally wrote as a guest post for a no-longer-existing blog.
- [Rogue's Gallery - Art Dealers as Colorful as any Artist](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/03/30/rogues-gallery-art-dealers/) - 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.
- [Christine Coulson's Metropolitan Stories: an Ode to the Met](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/10/31/christine-coulson-metropolitan-stories/) - Christine Coulson's Metropolitan Stories: A Novel is a beautiful, whimsical poetic ode to one of the world's most significant art museums – the Met.
- [Busting Myths About Art History](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/01/17/myths-about-art-history/) - Today, I'll debunk some common misconceptions about being an art historian. I hear these a lot when I talk about my work.
- [Edith Standen - American Monuments Woman](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/04/24/edith-standen-american-monuments-woman/) - Edith Standen was a British-American art historian and monuments officer during WW2. She later worked for the Met, where she became a textiles expert.
- [Rose Valland - Art Spy Extraordinaire](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/07/07/rose-valland-art-spy-extrordinaire/) - Rose Valland was a French museum administrator who worked as a spy and saved countless works of art during World War Two.
- [Why You Should Attend Local Arts Events](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2023/10/26/local-arts-events/) - I'm a really big fan of local arts events run in public gathering places, and in this post, I'll tell you why I think they're worth attending.
- [What is the Significance of Gargoyles and Grotesques?](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/06/23/a-beginners-field-guide-to-gargoyles-part-five-what-is-their-significance/) - In the final part of Field Guide to Gargoyles, we’ll explore the most complex topic of all – the significance and meaning of gargoyles and grotesques.
- [Part 1: What is a Gargoyle?](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/02/23/a-beginners-field-guide-to-gargoyles-part-one-what-is-a-gargoyle-anyway/) - I love gargoyles, and maybe you do too. But do you know exactly the term actually means? Learn this important fact in part one of Field Guide to Gargoyles.
- [An Introduction to Newport, Rhode Island](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/08/01/an-introduction-to-newport/) - An introduction to Newport, Rhode Island and all the spectacular Gilded Age mansions within. Newport was once a summer destination for American elites.
- [Rosecliff (My Newport Adventures)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/08/04/rosecliff/) - Of all the mansions I saw in Newport, Rosecliff was my favorite. It was owned by Hermann and Tessie Oelrichs and designed by Stanford White, completed in 1902. Tessie Oelrichs liked to host parties, and Rosecliff was definitely designed to be her perfect venue. She hosted her first of many, highly-theatrical galas before Rosecliff had even been fully completed.
- [The Isaac Bell House (My Newport Adventures)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/08/15/the-isaac-bell-house/) - The Isaac Bell House is very different from anything else I saw in Newport. While the Vanderbilts, Berwinds, and other prominent Newport families looked to the past to imitate Renaissance, Gothic, and Baroque architecture, Isaac Bell looked forward instead. Thanks to his architect Stanford White, his house (completed in 1883) began a new style that’s now called Shingle Style.
- [The Green Animals Topiary Garden (My Newport Adventures)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/08/16/the-green-animals-topiary-garden-my-newport-adventures/) - Brayton Hall, the Brayton family's former home, is located about 20 minutes outside Newport in the nearby town of Portsmouth. The primary attraction of this site isn't the house, but the garden, popularly known as the Green Animals Topiary Garden. It has more than 80 topiaries shaped of like animals and objects alongside may other trees and flowers. My favorite topiaries were the owl,
- [Christmas Eve by Edmund Restein (December 24th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/24/december-24th-christmas-eve-by-edmund-restein/) - As soon as I saw this work, I knew I had to feature it today. It's not just the name that makes it appropriate. It so perfectly captures the spirit of Christmas Eve, at least as I've always experienced it - the early darkness, the inviting light from the church windows, and the well-dressed families
- [Merry Christmas by Viggo Johansen (December 21st)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/21/december-21st-merry-christmas-by-viggo-johansen/) - Day 21 of a fine art Advent calendar is a lovely painting of a family dancing around the Christmas tree by Danish artist Viggo Johansen.
- [Christmas Eve by George Inness (December 10th)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/12/10/december-10th-christmas-eve-by-george-inness/) - Nineteenth-century Tonalist landscape painter George Inness (1825-1894) is one of my favorite American artists. Many of his paintings feature locations in the northeastern United States that I'm familiar with. That's one of the reasons I feel connected to his works, although most of these places look quite different today. There's no indication of where Christmas Eve
- [Art That Inspires Me: Lady Agnew of Locknaw by John Singer Sargent](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/03/08/lady-agnew-of-locknaw-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.
- [The Veterans Room: A Gilded Age Shrine at the Park Avenue Armory](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/03/06/veterans-room-park-avenue-armory/) - Inside NYC's Park Avenue Armory, the Gilded Age Veterans Room is a rare surviving interior by Louis Comfort Tifffany's Associated Artists.
- [The Garima Gospels: Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts in Ethiopia](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2021/11/16/garima-gospels/) - The Garima Gospels, two gospel books from northern Ethiopia, may be the oldest surviving illuminated Christian manuscripts in the entire world.
- [The Mysterious Daughters of Edward Darley Boit](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/04/18/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 Appeal of John Singer Sargent](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/04/21/appeal-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?
- [Fun Words I Learned Studying Art](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/04/26/fun-art-words/) - 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.
- [What is History Painting?](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/05/15/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.
- [What is Genre Painting?](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/06/05/what-is-genre-painting/) - We can talk about genres of paintings like genres of movies or books. But Genre Painting is also one of those genres. Learn to understand the difference.
- [What is Provenance, and Why is It Important?](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/07/18/what-is-provenance/) - Provenance is artwork's ownership history, and it helps determine if a work is genuine and honest. It’s very important in art history and the art market.
- [The Basilica and How It Became a Church](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/07/24/basilica-became-church/) - The word basilica is often used to refer to a church, but the two aren't synonyms. Learn about the basilica’s origins and adoption into Christianity.
- [An Array of Art at Biltmore](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/10/13/art-at-biltmore/) - George Vanderbilt wasn't a huge art collector, but he still managed to acquire quite a few notable works of art that are now on display at Biltmore.
- [Stained Glass at All Souls Church in Biltmore Village](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/10/16/stained-glass-all-souls-church/) - All Souls church in Biltmore Village, NC is home to beautiful stained glass by father-daughter team Maitland Armstrong and Helen Maitland Armstrong.
- [The Historic Grove Park Inn](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/10/17/historic-grove-park-inn/) - The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC opened in 1913. It was one of several local health resorts where people often visited for the mountain air.
- [Art That Inspires Me: Faiyum Mummy Portraits](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/11/08/faiyum-mummy-portraits/) - In Roman Egypt, many beautiful mummy portraits were made in and around the area of Faiyum. They were attached to mummy wrappings to cover the mummy's head.
- [The Minoan Bull Leaping Fresco](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/11/16/the-minoan-bull-leaping-fresco/) - In the ancient city of Knossos, archaeologists found many beautiful frescos. One of them depicts something strange - a trio of people vaulting over a bull.
- [The Mystery of the Disappearing Velasquez (maybe)](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/11/20/mystery-disappearing-velasquez/) - The Vanishing Velasquez tells the wild but true story of a man who believed that he owned a lost Velasquez masterpiece. It’s still an unsolved mystery.
- [A Matter of Perspective](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/11/24/matter-of-perspective/) - When Leonardo da Vinci painted his famous The Last Supper fresco, he used some cool tricks to make the painting seem to be part of the room itself.
- [Art That Inspires Me: Still Life Painting](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/12/18/still-life-painting/) - Back in the days of the artistic academies, still life was considered the least prestigious of the painting genres, but it's one of my personal favorites.
- [The Office of the Dead - Day 31](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/31/the-office-of-the-dead-day-thirty-one-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - The Office of the Dead was a section of funerary prayers in the book of hours. It could be accompanied by some pretty spooky and fantastic images.
- [Apocalypse Manuscripts - Day 30](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/30/apocalypse-manuscripts-day-thirty-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Apocalypse manuscripts concern the Book of Revelation. All this apocalyptic subject matter provided plenty of opportunities for vivid illustrations.
- [Alchemical Manuscripts - Day 29](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/29/alchemical-manuscripts-day-twenty-nine-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Alchemy may be pretty dead today, but in the Middle Ages, it was synonymous with science. Find out about illuminated manuscripts related to alchemy.
- [Where to Enjoy Manuscripts Online - Day 28](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/28/where-to-enjoy-manuscripts-online-day-twenty-eight-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - In this post, you’ll discover some places to browse medieval illuminated manuscripts online, including fully-digitized manuscripts from around the world.
- [The Hours of Catherine of Cleves - Day 27](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/27/the-hours-of-catherine-of-cleves-day-twenty-seven-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - The Hours of Catherine of Cleves is a book of hours that’s supposedly the greatest Dutch illuminated manuscript ever. It’s now at the Morgan Library in NY.
- [The Morgan Library Crusader Bible - Day 26](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/26/the-morgan-library-crusader-bible-day-twenty-six-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - The Morgan Library Crusader Bible is a medieval illuminated Bible with tons and tons of illustrations. See some of them in this post.
- [Lapidaries - Day 25](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/25/lapidaries-day-twenty-five-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Lapidaries are medieval manuscripts about gemstones and other minerals, which were believed to have all kinds of meanings and significances.
- [Weird Manuscripts - Day 24](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/25/weird-manuscripts-day-twenty-four-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Discover a selection of noteworthy medieval illuminated manuscripts with unusual shapes, strange imagery, and more.
- [Heart-Shaped Books - Day 23](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/24/heart-shaped-books-day-twenty-three-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Browse a selection of cordiform books (medieval illuminated manuscripts shaped like hearts) in this wildly-popular post.
- [Visigothic Script - Day 22](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/22/visigothic-script-day-twenty-two-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Scripts in medieval manuscripts were like fonts; they were different styles of writing the same letters. Learn about one type of script with a cool name.
- [Medieval Pattern Books - Day 21](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/21/medieval-pattern-books-day-twenty-one-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Medieval pattern books were quite a bit like pattern books today. They showed scripts, images, and decorative patterns for craftsmen to use in their work.
- [Non-European Medieval - Day 19](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/19/non-european-medieval-day-nineteen-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Europe was far from the only place to make incredible medieval illuminated manuscripts. Find out about great manuscripts from elsewhere in the world.
- [What in the World? - Day 18](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/18/what-in-the-world-day-eighteen-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - This post is dedicated to the weird and wonderful images in medieval illuminated manuscripts. Trust me, there’s plenty of material to choose from here.
- [The Book of Durrow - Day 17](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/18/the-book-of-durrow-day-seventeen-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - The Book of Durrow is a 7th-century Irish illuminated manuscript with lots of decoration. Think of it as a precursor to the more famous Book of Kells.
- [Vernacular Literature - Day 16](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/17/vernacular-literature-day-sixteen-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Most medieval manuscripts were written in Latin, the language of learning and religion. In this post, you’ll learn about those written in other languages.
- [Bindings - Day 14](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/14/bindings-day-fourteen-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Medieval manuscript bindings are often overlooked and rarely preserved, but they could be spectacularly elaborate works of art in themselves.
- [October in the Calendar Pages - Day 13](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/13/october-in-the-calendar-pages-day-thirteen-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Calendar pages appear in Books of Hours and feature scenes for each month. Find out how October was traditionally depicted.
- [Herbals - Day 12](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/12/herbals-day-twelve-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Herbals – books about herbs and medicine – were useful texts with plenty of opportunity to illustrate all the different plants they discussed.
- [Marginalia (Marginal Illustration) - Day 11](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/11/marginalia-marginal-illustration-day-eleven-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Marginalia – illustrations and other markings in manuscripts' margins - is one of the most interesting and debated aspects of manuscript studies.
- [Medieval University Students' Textbooks - Day 8](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/09/medieval-university-students-textbooks-day-eight-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Just as they are today, university students were big consumers of books in the Middle Ages. Learn about illuminated textbooks in law, medicine, and more.
- [Initials and Capital Letters - Day 6](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/06/initials-and-capital-letters-day-six-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Initials - capital letters within manuscripts' texts - are key venues for decoration, aides in navigating the text, and veritable works of art.
- [The Black Hours - Day 5](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/05/the-black-hours-day-five-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Today's post is about a truly stunning manuscript that demonstrates the relatively rare but wonderful phenomenon of manuscripts on colored parchment.
- [Text in Manuscripts - Day 4](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/10/04/text-in-manuscripts-day-four-of-medieval-manuscripts/) - Art historians primarily see manuscripts as works of art, but we shouldn't forget that they are also books intended to convey the written word.
- [What Do Gargoyles and Grotesques Look Like?](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/03/18/a-beginners-field-guide-to-gargoyles-part-four-what-do-they-look-like/) - Part four of Field Guide to Gargoyles concerns gargoyles’ and grotesques’ weird and wonderful appearances. They can have so many different looks.
- [Where Can You Find Gargoyles?](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/03/09/a-beginners-field-guide-to-gargoyles-part-three-where-can-you-find-them/) - In part three of Field Guide to Gargoyles, you will learn about the varied buildings that gargoyles and grotesques tend to inhabit, both then and now.
- [Where and When Did Gargoyles Come From?](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/03/02/a-beginners-field-guide-to-gargoyles-part-two-where-and-when-did-gargoyles-come-from/) - Find out about gargoyles’ ancient but murky historical origins and usage around the world in part two of Field Guide to Gargoyles.
- [The Self-Portrait: A Cultural History, by James Hall](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/12/21/the-self-portrait-a-cultural-history-by-james-hall/) - James Hall's The Self-Portrait: A Cultural History is an interesting, well-thought-out assessment of self-portrait painting as a cultural phenomenon.
- [Edwin Booth by John Singer Sargent](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/01/13/american-art-of-the-week-edwin-booth-by-john-singer-sargent/) - This week's artist, like last week's, is among the most famous artists in American history. John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) made many of his best-known works, including the scandalous Portrait of Madame X, during the many years in which he lived in Europe, but he was an American-born artist who painted many American subjects throughout his career. Today's featured work depicts Edwin Booth (1833-1893) - actor, theatre owner, and older brother of Lincoln's assassin.
- [Edith Perry at the Window by Lilla Cabot Perry](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/01/20/american-art-of-the-week-edith-perry-at-the-window-by-lilla-cabot-perry/) - American Impressionist Lilla Cabot Perry's beautiful painting of her daughter sitting by the window.
- [Church at Old Lyme by Childe Hassam](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/01/28/american-art-of-the-week-church-at-old-lyme-by-childe-hassam/) - Childe Hassam (1859-1935) is one of my most favorite American artists. He is also has the rare distinction of having one of his paintings hang in the Oval Office.
- [The Gross Clinic by Thomas Eakins](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/02/18/american-art-of-the-week-the-gross-clinic-by-thomas-eakins/) - The controversy surrounding the career of American realist painter Thomas Eakins (1844-1916) is perfectly encapsulated by his great painting The Gross Clinic. The Philadelphia-born Eakins loved naturalistic detail and was a strong advocate for the use of nude models in artists' education
- [Sunlight on the Coast by Winslow Homer](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/02/24/american-art-of-the-week-sunlight-on-the-coast-by-winslow-homer/) - I featured another painting by Winslow Homer a few weeks ago, but today is his birthday, so it would be just wrong to not acknowledge it. This work is very different in tone from "The Milkmaid", although the actual style of painting is quite similar. Homer is well-known for his seascapes, many of them painted
- [Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney by Robert Henri](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/03/09/american-art-of-the-week-gertrude-vanderbilt-whitney-by-robert-henri/) - Robert Henri's stunning portrait of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. Whitney was a sculptor, collector, and founder of the Whitney Museum. Henri was an important American portraitist.
- [World's Columbian Exposition by Theodore Robinson](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/04/13/american-art-of-the-week-worlds-columbian-exposition-by-theodore-robinson/) - Theodore Robinson (1852-1896) was one of the first American impressionist painters, and he painted at the Giverny, France artists' colony alongside Claude Monet.* This particular painting, one of his late works, is perhaps not as characteristic of his usual style as his earlier rural landscapes. However, I chose it because of its subject matter - the
- [Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose by John Singer Sargent](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/05/04/american-art-of-the-week-carnation-lily-lily-rose-by-john-singer-sargent/) - Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose is a lovely, dreamlike painting by John Singer Sargent. It depicts two little girls with Japanese lanterns in a setting of pale flowers.
- [May Night by Willard Metcalf](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/05/11/american-art-of-the-week-may-night-by-willard-metcalf/) - I thought that the title of this painting made it appropriate for today. Willard Metcalf (1858-1925) was an influential American artist from New England. He painted this work in Old Lyme, Connecticut when he was associated with the art colony there.* I love the mystery and beauty of this painting. Who is the girl? What
- [Paris La Nuit by Charles Courtney Curran](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/05/25/american-art-of-the-week-paris-la-nuit-by-charles-courtney-curran/) - I think there's something quite fascinating about paintings of Europe by American artists. It's interesting to compare how European cities look through American eyes with American scenes and with European artists' representations of the same cities. Does a Frenchman represent Paris differently than an American? How does an American see London compared with how he sees New York? Since so many nineteenth
- [American Artists and the American Revolution](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/01/04/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.
- [A Skating and Art Fun Fact](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/01/11/skating-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.
- [Don't Walk Like an Egyptian, Because They Didn't, Either!](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/02/06/dont-walk-like-an-egyptian/) - People often talk about "walking like an Egyptian", but ancient Egyptians did not walk this way. Instead, the iconic pose comes from Egyptian art.
- [Period Eye: Seeing Old Art With Modern Eyes](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/02/20/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?
- [Up Close and Personal With Illuminated Manuscripts](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/03/13/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.
- [I've Learned Not To Take Historic Treasures For Granted](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/04/16/ive-learned-not-to-take-historic-treasures-for-granted/) - After the Notre-Dame de Paris fire, I appreciate what a miracle it is that any ancient treasures survive. But that doesn’t mean they’ll always be around.
- [The Art of Fireworks](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/07/08/art-of-fireworks/) - During July 4th weekend, I enjoyed a nice display of fireworks. It made me start thinking that a really spectacular fireworks show is actually an art form.
- [The Church at Gloucester by Childe Hassam](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/07/19/church-at-gloucester-childe-hassam/) - Sometimes, I walk past random paintings and fall in love with them. Childe Hassam’s The Church at Gloucester was one, and I revisited it several times.
- [Miss Florence's Painted Dining Room](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/08/26/miss-florences-painted-dining-room/) - The Florence Griswold Museum in CT was once a boarding house for American Impressionists, who decorated the dining room walls for their host.
- [Resurrecting Female Artists - an interview with Eve Kahn](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2019/11/27/resurrecting-female-artists-eve-kahn/) - Eve Kahn's new book tells the life story of painter Mary Rogers Williams. Kahn sat talked with me about her work in resurrecting forgotten female artists.
- [The Churches of Netflix's Warrior Nun, Season One](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/07/27/churches-warrior-nun/) - Learn about the beautiful Spanish churches used in the filming of the Netflix series Warrior Nun, season one.
- [The Fascinating Story of Belle da Costa Greene](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/10/05/belle-da-costa-greene/) - If you're interested in notable bibliophiles, awesome women, or African-American history, I recommend Heidi Ardizzone's biography of Belle da Costa Greene.
- [In Celebration of Medieval Enamels](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2021/06/21/in-celebration-of-medieval-enamels/) - I have recently gained a new appreciation for medieval enamels. Here’s some of what I’ve learned about this colorful, shiny, and wonderful art form.
- [French Tradition at Delaware's Nemours Estate](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2022/08/02/nemours-estate/) - During a recent visit to Wilmington, DE, I visited Nemours Estate, the unforgettable home and formal gardens of industrialist Alfred I. Dupont.
- [Prehistoric Art as a Fundamental Element of Humanity](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2022/08/25/prehistoric-art-humanity/) - Discoveries of artworks created up to 45,000 years ago prove that making and using visual images is an ancient and fundamental part of being human.
- [Nerd Candy: Doodles in Medieval Manuscripts](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2014/10/05/nerd-candy-doodles-in-medieval-manuscripts/) - I loved medieval graffiti, and now I find out that there are medieval doodles, too! What more could a history nerd want? I just came across an article on Colossal (a very cool site, by the way, so be sure to follow it) about some work being done by Erik Kwakkel, a manuscript historian at Leiden University. Kwakkel is
- [Fool Me Once: A Fun Fact](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/04/27/fool-me-once/) - Roman historian Pliny the Elder tells a humorous story about two artists trying to outdo each other with their illusionistic paintings.
- [The World's First Painter: A Fun Fact That's Totally a Fable](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/05/16/worlds-first-painter/) - In his Natural History, The ancient Roman historian Pliny the Elder tells a memorable tale about the world's first painter.
- [Think gargoyle-ly, act locally](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2017/06/25/think-gargoyle-ly-act-locally/) - I spent my Saturday morning gargoyle hunting, and I found these charming little grotesques on a small house on the grounds of a church I sometimes attend. (To be more accurate, I already knew of their existence. I didn't find them as much as I sought them out to take their picture.) Interestingly, I didn't spot a single gargoyle
- [Some of My Favorite Art Books](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2020/03/20/some-of-my-favorite-art-books/) - Here are fifteen entertaining, informative, and highly readable art-related books that I have personally read and loved.
- [31 Days of Medieval Manuscripts](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/09/30/31daysofmedievalmanuscripts/) - 31 Days of Medieval Manuscripts is a series I wrote in October 2015 as part of my participation in a 31-day bogging challenge. Participants were encouraged to select a specific topic to focus on during the challenge, and I chose medieval manuscripts - a topic I love and studied extensively in college. Every day, I
- [Lost Languages and conversations about them](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/04/18/1285/) - It's been a long time since I've been as excited about a book as I was about Andrew Robinson's Lost Languages: The Enigma of the World's Undeciphered Scripts (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002), and I get excited about books almost every day. Lost Languages is a really excellent and informative introduction to the world's un-deciphered writing
- [Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/03/19/meetings-with-remarkable-manuscripts/) - My thoughts on Meetings With Remarkable Manuscripts, a really excellent and informative book about twelve, world-class medieval manuscripts.
- [Four Magical Christmas and Winter Paintings](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2016/12/11/christmas-winter-and-holiday-paintings-a-scholarly-skaters-picks-part-one/) - Eager to get into the holiday spirit? Enjoy this selection of winter and Christmas-themed paintings by American, British, and European artists.
- [Art That Inspires Me: Japanese Buddhist Deity](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2018/12/12/japanese-buddhist-deity/) - This installment of Art That Inspires Me features a Japanese Buddhist statue that appeared on a poster sent to me by the Yale University Art Gallery.
- [Carmina Burana](https://ascholarlyskater.com/2015/08/18/carmina-burana/) - I've been working on a dance routine to "Carmina Burana" and wanted to do some research on the history of the piece. I was planning to write more about gargoyles this week, but I decided to write about this instead when I saw a picture of the original medieval manuscript.* Before it was a well-known piece of

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