October 2025

Butchart Gardens: Beauty in British Columbia
In the late 19th century, the rugged coastline of Vancouver Island offered more than just natural beauty—it held rich limestone deposits…
Palazzo Vecchio: Florence’s Fortress of Power
Palazzo Vecchio, one of the most commanding structures in Florence, began construction in 1299 as the Palazzo della Signoria, named after…
Museum Guide: The Vatican Museums
There is no single Vatican Museum. This is the first and most important truth—one that eludes many of the five million…
Oregon: The History of its Art
The first art of Oregon was inseparable from life itself—woven into cedar bark, carved into river cliffs, and traded along forest…
Misia Sert: A Muse of Taste and Influence
In the shifting world of the Belle Époque and early 20th-century Europe, where new artistic movements flourished and old traditions were…
Biography: Gunnar Berndtson
Gunnar Fredrik Berndtson (1854–1895) was one of the most technically gifted painters to emerge from Finland in the 19th century, yet…
The Story of the Zbruch Idol
In 1848, during a period of unusual drought, a limestone statue was pulled from the shallow waters of the Zbruch River…
Mastery in Timber: Late Gothic Woodcarving in Germany
The Late Gothic period in Germany, spanning roughly from 1450 to 1530, marked a time of profound creativity, technical innovation, and…
The Hidden Symbolism in Dutch Still Life Paintings
During the 17th century, the Dutch Republic flourished economically, culturally, and scientifically. Amid this prosperity, a distinct style of painting emerged…
Inspiration: “The Death of Marat,” by Jacques-Louis David
In the heat of the French Revolution, few figures were more artistically and politically intertwined than Jacques-Louis David. Born in Paris…
Poppets in Folk Magic: Cursed Dolls and Witchcraft
The use of dolls as magical instruments traces back to the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean. In Greece and Rome, small…