Sometimes, I think architectural history is even more fascinating and meaningful than the history of smaller-scale arts like painting and sculpture. In this post, I give you three reasons why you should learn about architecture.
Tag: Architecture
Five subjects to help you understand art (besides art history)
For the intellectually curious among my readers, discover five subject areas (besides art history) you can study to help you better understand art and architecture.
French Tradition at Delaware’s Nemours Estate
During a recent visit to Wilmington, Delaware, I had the opportunity to visit Nemours Estate, the 77-room home and formal French gardens of industrialist Alfred I. Dupont (1864-1935) and his family. It wasn't an experience I'll soon forget.
The Narbonne Cathedral Dog Gargoyle
Enjoy this photo, sent in by a reader, of a charming gargoyle depicting a Saint Bernard dog from the cathedral of Saint-Just and Saint-Pasteur in Narbonne, France.
Yearly Updates on the Notre-Dame de Paris Restoration
On April 15, 2019, a devastating fire tore through the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, the most beloved and iconic of all Gothic buildings. Largely through the heroic efforts of Paris firefighters, the building was spared the total destruction that at one point seemed inevitable. However, the damage was extensive. Despite early negative forecasts and complications due to the pandemic, the reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris is well underway, and the restored building will look as much like the old one as possible. Almost every year since the fire, I have written something about the cathedral's current condition and the status of the restoration. You can find it all in this post.
Art in TV and Film: The Churches of Netflix’s Warrior Nun, Season One
Learn about the beautiful Spanish churches used in the filming of the new Netflix series Warrior Nun.
Hagia Sophia and Its Complex History
Here's my guide to understanding all the controversy surrounding the recent decision to turn Hagia Sophia back into a mosque.
Irving Stone’s The Agony and the Ecstasy Brings Michelangelo to Life
Irving Stone's The Agony and the Ecstasy is a 1961 biographical novel about Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564). I'm glad that people kept pushing me towards this book until I couldn't resist anymore; I enjoyed it greatly and recommend it highly. Here's why.
The Veterans Room: A Gilded Age Shrine at the Park Avenue Armory
New York City's Park Avenue Armory was originally a headquarters for the National Guard's Seventh Regiment. Its Gilded Age Veterans Room is a rare surviving interior by Louis Comfort Tifffany's Associated Artists.
I’ve Learned Not To Take Historic Treasures For Granted
As I'm sure all of you know by now, the Gothic cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris caught on fire yesterday and suffered extensive damage. Yesterday's events made me appreciate what a true miracle it is that any ancient treasures survive at all. But just because they've gotten this far doesn't mean that they will always be around.