Renaissance Art

October 21, 2022

450-Year-Old Painting Contains Over 100 Proverbs We Still Use Today

Birds of a feather flock together. When the cat's away, the mice will play. We all know and love these common, American proverbs. Sometimes ironic, often silly and amusing, these sayings test our brains—and our wit. And it's not just in English. Playing with language in literature, conversation, and art has been a hallmark of different cultures for centuries.

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July 9, 2022

17 Facts You Need to Know About the Delightfully Weird ‘Garden of Earthly Delights’

Depicting a fantastically surreal world that ranges from orgiastic pleasure to terrifying horror, Hieronymus Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights has fascinated the public for centuries. Now housed in Madrid's Prado Museum, it's hard to believe this bizarre painting—filled with Willy Wonka machines and hybrid creatures caught in strange acts—was painted over 500 years ago. In the information age, it's shocking how much is still open to interpretation when it comes to The Garden of Earthly Delights.

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May 15, 2022

10 Surprising Facts About Michelangelo

One of the greatest artists of all time, Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564) enjoyed unparalleled success both during and after his lifetime. Along with Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Titian, he is considered the exemplary figure of the Italian Renaissance and millions flock to see his work in Italy each year. From his iconic David sculpture to his breathtaking frescos in the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo has been making history for centuries. His nickname Il Divino (‘The Divine One”)

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March 21, 2022

The Story Behind Raphael’s Masterpiece ‘The School of Athens’

Long before Raphael the hotheaded, red-eye-mask-wearing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle entertained children onscreen, there was Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (best known simply as Raphael) the esteemed painter who’d won over a cultured crowd of art connoisseurs. By his mid-20s, Raphael was already a star. At the top of his game, this master of the Italian Renaissance had been invited by the pope to live in Rome, where he would spend the rest of his days.

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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.