Latest Stories

Our growing archive of info about art, design, and culture.

Inspiration: “Sleigh Ride on a Sunny Winter Day,” by Peder Monsted

SLEIGH RIDE ON A SUNNY WINTER DAYPeder Mørk Mønsted 10 December 1859 – 20 June 1941Danish Peder Mørk Mønsted was born at Grenå, Denmark. He was the son of Otto Christian Mønsted and…
Inspiration: “By Summer Seas,” by Herbert James Draper

Born in London, the son of a jeweller named Henry Draper and his wife Emma, Herbert James Draper was educated at Bruce Castle School in Tottenham and then went on to study…
Biography: Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter (1866–1943) was an English author, illustrator, and naturalist best known for her beloved children’s books, particularly those featuring anthropomorphic animals. She was born on July 28, 1866, in London, England,…
Inspiration: “Village Girl With Red Carnation,” by Adolfo Guiard

Adolfo Guiard’s “Village Girl with Red Carnation” is a remarkable piece of art that captures the essence of Basque culture and the beauty of its people through the lens of the late…
Inspiration: “Maternité Devant La Mer,” by Maurice Denis

Maurice Denis was born 25 November 1870, in Granville, Manche, a coastal town in the Normandy region of France. His father was of modest peasant origins; after four years in the army, he went to…
Top 10 Tips for Traveling Abroad

1. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport. 2. Read the Public Announcements or…
Inspiration: “The Penitent Magdalene,” by Georges de La Tour

Georges de La Tour was born in the town of Vic-sur-Seille in the Diocese of Metz, which was technically part of the Holy Roman Empire, but had been ruled by France since 1552. Baptism documentation revealed…
Biography: Guillaume Seignac

Guillaume Seignac (1870–1924) was a French academic painter known for his idealized and meticulously executed depictions of classical and mythological themes. He was part of the academic tradition and followed in the…
South Dakota: The History of its Art

The land that would become South Dakota was a studio long before it was a state. Carved into cliffs, painted on hides, and woven into utilitarian objects, its earliest art traditions emerged…
Crown of Stone: The Architecture of Milan’s Duomo

Towering over the Piazza del Duomo in the heart of Milan, the Duomo di Milano is one of the largest and most elaborate cathedrals in the world. With its forest of spires,…
Edma Morisot: Sister, Muse, and Silent Inspiration

Edma Morisot may not be a household name in the history of French painting, but her influence is woven deeply into the fabric of one of the greatest art movements of the…
Inspiration: “White Brazilian Orchid,” by Martin Johnson Heade

Martin Johnson Heade (August 11, 1819 – September 4, 1904) was an American painter known for his salt marsh landscapes, seascapes, and depictions of tropical birds (such as hummingbirds), as well as…