Art History

September 5, 2020

5 Iconic Artworks by David Hockney That Define His Long Career

Best known for his vibrant paintings of Los Angeles' swimming pools, David Hockney is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. The 83-year-old English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer, and photographer made a huge contribution to the Pop Art movement of the 1960s, and he still continues to paint and exhibit today. From his early abstract figure paintings to his later photographic collages, Hockney’s style is constantly evolving.

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August 23, 2020

5 Fascinating Facts About Saint Basil’s Cathedral, the Cultural Gem of Moscow

With its scarlet red walls and fantastical onion-shaped domes, it's no wonder that Saint Basil's Cathedral is considered to be one of the most unique feats of Russian architecture. Originally built between 1555 and 1561 to commemorate a military conquest, the building continues to dazzle thousands of visitors each year in Moscow's famous Red Square. The cathedral is world-renowned for its fairytale appearance, but how much do you know about its history?

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August 9, 2020

19th-Century Japanese Fireman Coats Feature Stunning Scenes on the Inside

During Japan's Edo Period (1603-1868) firefighters were responsible for stopping blazes before the flames ran rampant through a city's wooden buildings. Many stunning examples of firemen's coats (called hikeshi banten) have survived from the nineteenth century. On the outside, these long coats function similar to modern firefighter uniforms by identifying the wearer with their fire brigade. However, the insides of the coat were decorated in elaborate scenes of strength and heroism drawn from Japanese legends.

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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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My Modern Met

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