Art History

April 28, 2025

At a Church in Naples, There’s a Secret Fresco Hidden Behind a 16th-Century Painting

At first glance, nothing appears to be amiss in the Church of Saint George Maggiore in Naples, Italy. Beside the main altar and flanked by a semicircle of white columns is a magnificent, 16th-century painting by Alessio D’Elia, depicting the life of San Severo. It’s an unassuming composition until, almost like a window, the canvas swings open to reveal a vibrant fresco on the wall behind it.

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April 4, 2025

Learn About Louise Bourgeois: From Her French Beginnings To Monumental Spider Sculptures

French-American artist Louise Bourgeois was a prolific creative. In her eight-decades-long career spanning the 1930s to the 2010s, she created large-scale sculptures for which she’s still known today. Sculptures, however, were just one part of her practice; she also painted, printed, and produced fabric art. The pieces were informed by the many themes she explored, all of which have proved timeless: memory, trauma, family, and the body.

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March 24, 2025

Long-Lost Renaissance Masterpiece by Famous Artist Andrea Mantegna Has Resurfaced in Pompeii

A long-lost painting from the mid-16th century that has been attributed to famed Renaissance painter Andrea Mantegna is now temporarily on view at the Vatican Museums. After three months, the freshly restored painting will go back to the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary in Pompeii, where it was originally discovered and has hung for centuries. The scene, titled Deposition of Christ, depicts Jesus’ descent from the cross after his crucifixion.

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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.