• Common Drama: Baroque Music and Art

    Common Drama: Baroque Music and Art

    The Baroque period, spanning from approximately 1600 to 1750, was a time of extraordinary cultural and artistic flourishing across Europe. Emerging in the wake of the Renaissance, this era brought a shift toward heightened emotional expression, dramatic intensity, and grandeur in all creative endeavors. The Baroque style touched every facet of human expression, from music…

  • House Wine, Near Anafiotika, Athens

    House Wine, Near Anafiotika, Athens

    Waiting for lunch on a very hot June day. The house wine kept me company. In 1922, Greek refugees from Asia Minor also established in Anafiotika, altering the population that was up…

  • Cat in Anafiotika, Athens

    Anafiotika (Greek: Αναφιώτικα pronounced  is a scenic tiny neighborhood of Athens, part of the old historical neighborhood called Plaka. It lies in northerneast side of the Acropolis hill. The first houses were built in the era of Otto of…

  • A Dark Walk — Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern

    A Dark Walk — Istanbul’s Basilica Cistern

    The Basilica Cistern, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), Turkey. The cistern, located 490 ft southwest of the Hagia Sophia on…

  • Biography: Joseph Christian Leyendecker

    Biography: Joseph Christian Leyendecker

    Joseph Christian Leyendecker (1874-1951) was a preeminent American illustrator whose work defined the visual culture of the early 20th century. Born on March 23, 1874, in Montabaur, Germany, Leyendecker immigrated with his…

  • Roman Agora, Athens, Greece

    The original Agora was encroached upon and obstructed by a series of Roman buildings, beginning with the imperial family’s gift to the Athenians of a large odeion (concert hall). The Odeon of…

  • Biography: Valentin Serov

    Biography: Valentin Serov

    Valentin Aleksandrovich Serov (1865-1911) was a prominent Russian painter and one of the leading portrait artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is celebrated for his ability to capture…

  • Biography: Ilya Efimovich Repin

    Biography: Ilya Efimovich Repin

    Ilya Efimovich Repin (1844–1930) was a towering figure in Russian art, whose work left a profound impact on the portrayal of Russian society, history, and personality. Born in Chuguyev, in the Kharkov…

  • Art Schools: Factories of Creativity or Elitism?

    Art Schools: Factories of Creativity or Elitism?

    Art schools occupy a unique place in the cultural landscape, acting as both incubators of creativity and potential gatekeepers to the art world. These institutions promise to nurture budding talent and equip…

  • Mazzorbo: Forgotten Island of Venice

    Mazzorbo: Forgotten Island of Venice

    Mazzorbo is a serene island nestled in the Venetian Lagoon, often overshadowed by its colorful neighbor, Burano. Despite its quiet charm, Mazzorbo holds a wealth of history and culture. Connected by a…

  • Biography: Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky

    Biography: Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky

    Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (1817–1900) was a Russian Romantic painter who is best known for his masterful marine art. Born on July 29, 1817, in Feodosia, a port town in Crimea (then part…

  • List of Danish Painters

    The Art Bog’s list of Danish painters. Axel Aabrink (1887–1965) Jørgen Aabye (1868–1959) Carl Frederik Aagaard (1833-1895) Nikolaj Abraham Abildgaard (1744–1809) Georg Achen (1860–1912) Else Alfelt (1910–1974) Peder Als (1725–1776) Peter Alsing…