All articles tagged with #art history
A proteomics analysis of 28 paint and adhesive samples from 14 Egyptian artifacts found plant-based binders, including sesame and moringa proteins, suggesting ancient artists chose materials with religious or symbolic meaning and indicating moringa may have been deliberately associated with craftsmen and the craft of painting.
New research reexamines Simonetta Vespucci, Botticelli’s famed model, and suggests a slowly growing pituitary tumor—possibly secreting growth hormone and prolactin—plus a pituitary apoplexy event could explain her sudden death in 1476, with changes in Botticelli’s portraits and contemporary illness accounts supporting the reading and offering an alternative to tuberculosis, though no direct tissue evidence remains.
Researchers analyzing Jan Brueghel the Elder’s painting Air argue it depicts a noctule bat catching a bird midflight, aligning with recent evidence that larger bats eat birds. The study links modern tracking with historical art and suggests more natural-history knowledge may be hiding in paintings, though it remains unclear whether Brueghel observed the event or drew on symbolic or secondhand observations.
David Hockney reshaped art by synthesizing minimalism, abstraction, and portraiture; he challenged static perspective with reverse/multi-direction viewpoints, bridged painting and photography through photo-collage and digital drawing, elevated landscape to monumental scale, and relentlessly embraced new technology and theatre to make immersive, personal art—while sexuality remained a driving force in his work.
Whistler's Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter's Mother (1871) rose from near obscurity to iconic status thanks to a mix of a universal maternal theme, a simple, easily remixable composition, and timely promotion across media. After a 1891 French acquisition, it fed US national pride and advertising narratives, topped by a 1932 MoMA tour and a 1934 US postage stamp, turning the painting into a cultural meme that outlived Whistler's original art-for-art's-sake stance.
The Met Gala’s Fashion is Art theme showcased eight outfits inspired by famous artworks (and a poem): Rosé echoed Georges Braque’s The Birds with a bird brooch; Lena Dunham referenced Artemisia Gentileschi’s Judith Slaying Holofernes through bold red and feathered details; Julianne Moore channeled John Singer Sargent’s Madame X; Hunter Schafer wore Klimt’s Mäda Primavesi-inspired blue-eyed glamour; Dree Hemingway nodded to Rubens’s Portrait of Marchesa Brigida Spinola-Doria with silver embroidery and a dramatic collar; Anne Hathaway’s Michael Kors piece drew on Keats’s Ode on a Grecian Urn for Grecian urn iconography; Heidi Klum recreated Raffaelle Monti’s Veiled Vestal; and Ciara went gold-on-gold to symbolize Nefertiti. The event, marking the Costume Institute exhibit, celebrated fashion as an embodied art form.
Brussels collectors’ claims that a canvas Pietà and a Rome bust are by Michelangelo sparked a high-stakes debate: a Belgian report cites technical tests and monograms as evidence, but leading Renaissance experts remain skeptical, noting the lack of provenance and that such attributions develop slowly over decades rather than days. The piece uses a “Dan Brown” quip to underline how sensational discoveries in art history can mislead when not supported by widespread scholarly consensus.
A study using open-source tools (Blender and MakeHuman) models a 1.8-meter adult male and finds that the Shroud’s image is more consistent with a low-relief artistic technique than a direct imprint from a 3D body, suggesting the famed cloth may be an artwork rather than a miraculous burial image.
The article explores the possibility that Leonardo da Vinci may have painted a nude version of the Mona Lisa, based on historical accounts, sketches, and comparisons with other Renaissance artworks, suggesting that the famous portrait could have had a more provocative origin.
Aimee Ng, the new chief curator of the Frick Collection, is innovating museum engagement through a video series and by uncovering personal stories behind the artworks, such as her research into Lady Skipwith's expression and life, revealing deeper insights into the women depicted on the museum's walls.
The article analyzes Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's engagement photo through the lens of centuries-old art history rules, highlighting how it echoes traditional themes of contract, confinement, secrecy, conflict, ceremony, and composure, akin to classical artworks from the Renaissance to the 19th century, thus framing their modern announcement within a long tradition of meticulously choreographed courtship.
Ken Burns' new PBS docuseries "Leonardo da Vinci" explores the life and legacy of the renowned artist and polymath through a unique visual and rhetorical approach. The two-part series delves into da Vinci's intellectual and artistic processes, using his notebooks as a central theme. While the documentary struggles with biographical details, it excels in showcasing da Vinci's interdisciplinary genius and his impact on art and science. Featuring insights from experts like Guillermo del Toro, the series offers a fresh perspective on da Vinci's work and influence.
Ken Burns' new PBS documentary on Leonardo da Vinci spans nearly four hours, exploring the artist's multifaceted career but often indulging in excessive praise. While featuring insights from experts like Carmen Bambach and Martin Kemp, the film misses opportunities for deeper analysis by glossing over controversies such as the authenticity of "Salvator Mundi." The documentary's style is more dynamic than Burns' previous works, yet it remains a largely uncritical celebration of Leonardo's genius, raising questions about the cultural need to idolize historical figures.
Ken Burns, renowned American documentary filmmaker, discusses his new documentary on Leonardo da Vinci, marking his first exploration of a non-American subject. The film delves into Leonardo's life as a polymath, highlighting his contributions to art, science, and engineering. Burns, known for his works on American history, was initially hesitant to take on the project but was persuaded by his family and friend Walter Isaacson. The documentary, airing on PBS, features insights from various experts and aims to demystify Leonardo, portraying him as a genius with a wide-ranging curiosity.
Oluremi C. Onabanjo, a photography curator at MoMA and a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia, balances her packed schedule with early morning writing sessions, attending exhibitions and talks, and engaging with Black scholars and art across New York City. Her cultural life is filled with absorbing images, texts, and sounds, reflecting her diverse background and deep commitment to art and history.