Art History

October 9, 2023

Artemisia Gentileschi Lost Painting Found in King Charles’ “Attic” and Is Restored

Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi was one of the most celebrated painters of the Baroque period. So much so that she even painted for royalty, including a stint in London at the court of King Charles I. So how did one of her canvases end up in storage at Hampton Court for over 100 years, only to be recently rediscovered? It all goes back to the whims of history.

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September 2, 2023

Explore the Diamond Sūtra: The World’s Earliest Dated and Printed Book in Existence

Like its namesake stone, the Diamond Sūtra was found underground. In 1900, a Buddhist monk in the Gansu province of China stumbled upon a sealed entrance leading to a series of 492 connected caves. The site had been closed off to the world since the start of the 11th century. Once a major Buddhist center, the area is known as Mogao (“Peerless”) Caves or the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas.

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August 19, 2023

How the Memphis Movement Went Against “Good Taste” To Inspire Designers Today

Trends are cyclical, and it seems that even the most outrageous ones find a way of coming back in vogue. Memphis design, a style synonymous with the 1980s, is one example of how a movement that, in the early aughts, would’ve seemed ridiculous is now back in style among influencers and tastemakers. Once called “a shotgun wedding between Bauhaus and Fisher-Price,” Memphis design is now taken seriously by the design community.

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August 6, 2023

Who Was N.C. Wyeth? Learn About the 20th Century Illustrator Responsible for Over 100 Books

In an era that’s known as the Golden Age of illustration, illustrator Newell Convers Wyeth (aka N.C. Wyeth) was one of its superstars. The American painter contributed illustrations to over 100 books and painted over 4,000 images. His realistically rendered pictures visualized classic tales like Treasure Island, The Last of the Mohicans, and Robinson Crusoe. Wyeth also created illustrations for advertising campaigns such as Coca-Cola and Kellogg’s Foods.

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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.