Art History

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.

Read Article

August 1, 2020

Free Online App Lets You Create Your Own Bayeux Tapestry

Artists and authors often look to the Middle Ages for inspiration. Both history and legend offer brave knights, epic battles, and castles full of royalty. Now, anyone can create their own medieval-style storyboards, greeting cards, or memes using an online application known as the Historic Tale Construction Kit. Created by a team of programmers (Leonard Allain-Launay, Mathieu Thoretton, Maria Cosmina Etegan)

Read Article

July 20, 2020

The History of Camera Obscura and How It Was Used as a Tool to Create Art in Perfect Perspective

Before the invention of the photographic camera, transferring a real-life image onto paper or another flat surface was no easy feat. Renaissance artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci first described a mechanism that would make drawing in perfect perspective much easier to achieve, something that would later be known as camera obscura. Rather than meticulously measuring out the lengths and angles of a subject or scene, camera obscura offers a shortcut.

Read Article

My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.