Posts by Margherita Cole

Margherita Cole

Margherita Cole is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and illustrator based in Southern California. She holds a BA in Art History with a minor in Studio Art from Wofford College, and an MA in Illustration: Authorial Practice from Falmouth University in the UK. She wrote and illustrated an instructional art book about how to draw cartoons titled 'Cartooning Made Easy: Circle, Triangle, Square' that was published by Walter Foster in 2022.
August 2, 2020

How Sister Plautilla Nelli Became the First Woman Artist to Paint ‘The Last Supper’

It's no secret that the Italian Renaissance is one of the most influential movements in Western art history. We think of this time as being dominated by mostly male artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, but there were a few famous women painters who left their mark. Among them was Sister Plautilla Nelli (c. 1524-1588), the first woman to render The Last Supper.

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July 25, 2020

How the Florence Cathedral Spent Centuries Under Construction to Become a Beloved Landmark

From its scarlet red dome to its beckoning bell tower, the Santa Maria del Fiore is an architectural gem. Also known as the Florence Cathedral, it is one of the most significant—and most visited—landmarks in Italy and the fourth largest church in Europe. At first glance, the Florence Cathedral may appear to be one vast feat of architecture, but it is actually made up of a few different components.

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July 20, 2020

Vibrant Palette Knife Paintings Create 3D Flowers Out of Layers of Paint

New Zealand-based artist Joshua Davison creates mesmerizing palette knife paintings of flowers that pop off of the canvas. These eye-catching reliefs are composed of dozens of individually crafted petals that burst with color. Although the series originated as a way for the 23-year-old painter to practice color theory, it has since evolved into a study of symmetry, saturation, and contrast.

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July 16, 2020

Moon-Inspired Mirror Lets You Take Amazing Celestial Selfies

Everyone knows there's a special art to taking the perfect at-home mirror selfie, and one of the most important things it requires is the right mirror. Now, space-lovers and stargazers can photograph themselves with the moon in stunning clarity thanks to experimental artist and designer Granila Santisteban. As a self-described “Moon Maker” on Instagram, she creates exquisite moon-inspired mirrors that can rest on your table or hang on the wall for a celestial ambiance.

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