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.
Tag: 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.
Astrology and Zodiac Signs in Medieval Art
Medieval Europeans were pretty serious about astrology. The belief that that stars and planets influenced daily life was fundamental to the medieval calendar and cycle of seasons. For this reason, zodiac signs appear all over medieval art and architecture, often in unexpected places. Check out some examples in my article for DailyArt Magazine.
Art in TV and Film: The Churches of Netflix’s Warrior Nun
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.
Julia Morgan, a Pioneering Female Architect
Julia Morgan was the first successful female architect in the Unites States. She designed over 700 structures and is best known for the fantastic Hearst Castle complex in California. Please enjoy my lengthy and well-researched article to discover her empowering and impressive story.
My Level-Headed Update on Notre-Dame de Paris, One Year After the Fire
It has been exactly one year since the horrible fire that almost destroyed the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. My article for DailyArt Magazine aims to be a balanced assessment of Notre-Dame's current status and also my celebration that the cathedral still stands on the first anniversary of its near destruction.
A Scholarly Skater 