On Memorial Day, my mom and I visited Kykuit for a belated Mothers' Day. Kykuit is the Sleepy Hollow, NY estate of the Rockefeller family. It's massive and gorgeous, and we had a great time there. The estate is well-known for two things - its gardens and Nelson Rockefeller's collection of modern art.
Turner and His Disappearing Colors
Before synthetic colors, it was important to choose your paints wisely. Some artists, like J.M.W. Turner, didn't always do this, and their paintings discolored quickly.
Colorful Travels with Victoria Finlay
A few words about Victoria Finlay's Color: A Natural History of the Palette. Finlay travelled all across the world to research historical sources of color pigments. Her book is full of surprising and sometimes alarming facts.
A Beautiful Bierstadt Painting (DailyArt Magazine)
I saw this spectacular little oil sketch at the Newark Museum, and I instantly fell in love. So, when DailyArt Magazine asked me to pick an artwork for Painting of the Week, the choice was clear.
Enjoying Museum Surprises
It's easy to assume that you know what you're going to enjoy and only look at that, passing by other artworks without paying much attention. It's all too easy to pre-screen your experience, even if you don't mean to, but I would suggest trying to keep an open mind. You may find a new favorite where you least expect it.
The Hidden Colors of Antiquity
We're used to thinking of ancient Greek sculptures as plain white. We look at them and clearly see that they're made of white marble with no other colors whatsoever. But, the truth is exactly the opposite. Learn about how the ancient Greeks and Romans painted their statuary and see what this might have originally looked like.
The World’s First Painter: A Fun Fact That’s Totally a Fable
In his Natural History, The ancient Roman historian Pliny the Elder tells a memorable tale about the world's first painter.
What is History Painting?
History painting was an important genre in 18th and 19th-century European art. The term is used all the time, but doesn't simply refer to paintings of history. Learn about the characteristics of a history paint and why all the most ambitious artists wanted to pursue it.
Thomas Gainsborough and His Daughters (DailyArt Magazine)
Please read my article for DailyArt Magazine about Thomas Gainsborough's portraits of his two daughters.
The Romance of the Mountains at the Newark Museum
Thoughts on the Newark Museum's exhibition The Rockies & The Alps: Bierstadt, Calame, and the Romance of the Mountains (March through August 2018).
