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…
Latest Stories
Our growing archive of info about art, design, and culture.
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…
Inspiration: “Windmill Near River,” by Maurice Cullen
Cullen was born on June 6, 1866, in St. John’s, Newfoundland. In 1870 his family moved to Montreal, Quebec. He traveled to Paris at the age of 22 to study painting at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and…
Biography: Rolf Armstrong
Rolf Armstrong (1889–1960) was an American pin-up artist and commercial illustrator known for his glamorous and iconic images of women. He gained fame for his work during the first half of the…
Rococo: The Playful Elegance That Shaped an Era
Rococo stands as one of the most elegant and whimsical artistic movements in history. Emerging in early 18th-century France, it was characterized by lightheartedness, intricate details, and a celebration of opulence. The…
Inspiration: “Tricoteuse,” by William Adolphe Bouguereau
In 1856, William began living with one of his models, Nelly Monchablon, a 19-year-old from Lisle-en-Rigault. Living together out of wedlock, the pair kept their liaison a secret. Their first child, Henriette,…
Love Story: Artemisia Gentileschi and Francesco Maria Maringhi
In the world of art history, few stories carry the weight of drama, romance, and tragedy like that of Artemisia Gentileschi and Francesco Maria Maringhi. It’s a tale of passion, betrayal, and…
