Art History

February 22, 2022

Dissecting Leonardo da Vinci’s Famous ‘The Last Supper’ Painting

Leonardo da Vinci produced an unprecedented amount of work during the Italian Renaissance. Among his famously eclectic—and seemingly endless—portfolio, there are three creations that stand out from the rest: the Mona Lisa (a painted portrait), the Vitruvian Man (a scientific drawing), and The Last Supper (a biblical fresco). Since its completion at the end of the 15th century, The Last Supper has captivated audiences.

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February 15, 2022

How Delacroix Captured France’s Revolutionary Spirit in ‘Liberty Leading the People’

When you think of the French Revolution, what comes to mind? Most likely, you picture chaos on the streets of Paris; maybe you imagine the movement's most triumphant figures; or, perhaps you simply see the fluttering French flag. In Liberty Leading the People, a large-scale piece painted in 1830, Romantic artist Eugène Delacroix explores all three of these motifs, culminating in a canvas that epitomizes the spirit of the Revolution.   Who was Eugène Delacroix?

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January 29, 2022

What Is Cloisonnism? This Post-Impressionist Style Is Inspired by Stained Glass and Japanese Prints

The 19th-century was a time of significant change in the art world. In the 1870s, Impressionists rejected the beaux-arts (“fine arts”) in favor of depictions of fleeting moments inspired by light. This innovative style eventually made way for its successor, Post-Impressionism, which found its roots in color rather than light. One of the significant styles to emerge from this art movement is Cloisonnism.

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My Modern Met

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