Understand attribution, the process by which art historians make educated suppositions about who made an artwork, and learn about the pseudonyms given to artists whose real names we don't know. Enjoy some pretty religious paintings at the same time.
Tag: 2022AdventCalendar
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. It's definitely not the same experience as the series, but it's a good textual companion and all-around enjoyable art book.
Rembrandt Lost and Gained: Portrait of a Young Woman at the Allentown Art Museum
The Allentown Art Museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania has recently celebrated the addition of a painting by Rembrandt van Rijn to its collection. The catch? The museum has already owned this painting for sixty years! What follows is the completely crazy, totally true story of how the Allentown Art Museum gained, lost, and then gained a Rembrandt again.
Frick Madison Shines New Light on Old Friends
On the afternoon of March 4th, I was one of the very first people to experience Frick Madison, the Frick Collection's new installation in the Whitney Museum's former home at 945 Madison Avenue. The surprisingly-wonderful combination of historical art and Brutalist structure literally shines a new light on the Frick's beloved artworks.
The Sumptuous Saints of Carlo Crivelli
Meet Carlo Crivelli, painter of sumptuously-dressed Madonnas and saints. His rich and beautiful style is part Gothic and part Renaissance, with more than a hint of Byzantine icon painting.
The Fascinating Story of Belle da Costa Greene
If you're interested in rare books, notable bibliophiles, awesome women, or African-American history, I recommend reading Heidi Ardizzone's biography of Belle da Costa Greene.
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart – the Gothic Spirit in America
The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a beautiful, massive Gothic Revival church in Newark, New Jersey. Join me for a virtual tour where I recap my recent visit.
“Pictor Angelicus” – Fra Angelico the Angelic Painter
In honor of the Christmas season, I thought it would be a nice idea to look at an artist famous for his beautiful and elegant angel paintings. I'm speaking, of course, about Fra Angelico.
The Grumpy Angel
In this tempera painting by 14th-century Italian artist Niccolo di ser Sozzo, the angel looks impatient and irritated. This is something you don't see very often, so why does it look like this?
Exploring Buddhist Art at the Rubin Museum
The Rubin Museum of Art in New York City is all about Himalayan art - works from Tibet, Nepal, India, China, and the surrounding areas. It's a really unique and interesting place, where I learned about religion and symbolism that's very different from what I'm used to.
A Scholarly Skater 