Alexandra Kiely

Alexandra believes that enjoying the art of the past is the closest she can get to time travel, only much safer. When she's not being an art historian, she can usually be found ice skating and dancing. Visit her at ascholarlyskater.com.

Stories By Alexandra Kiely

Artists' Stories

The Fabulous Sculpture and Mysterious Life of Edmonia Lewis

By Alexandra KielyFebruary 13, 2020

Edmonia Lewis (c. 1844-1907) was quite a force of nature. She was an African-American and Native-American woman who became an internationally-respected sculptor in the prejudiced 19th century. Her life was fascinating, but it’s difficult to uncover....
20th century

Fabulous Railway Station Paintings from the Golden Age of Train Travel

By Alexandra KielyJanuary 31, 2020

Once upon a time, train travel was the height of fashion. That’s why the second half of the 19th century and first few decades of the 20th century are considered the Golden Age of Train Travel....
Museums And Exhibitions

150 Years of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

By Alexandra KielyJanuary 25, 2020

It’s time to celebrate 150 years of the Met! The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is America’s largest and most important art museum. It’s also one the most significant museums in the whole...
Painting of the Week

Painting of the Week: Chateau Noir by Paul Cézanne

By Alexandra KielyJanuary 19, 2020

Today is Paul Cézanne’s birthday (he was born on January 19, 1839), so this Painting of the Week is dedicated to him. It is his landscape Chateau Noir, 1900/1904, at the National Gallery of Art in...
Museums And Exhibitions

Here’s the Scoop on the Frick Collection’s Upcoming Renovation

By Alexandra KielyJanuary 9, 2020

The Frick Collection is a beloved New York City institution. It was founded by millionaire industrialist and art collector Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919), and it is located in Frick’s Fifth Avenue mansion. The museum features a...
Painting of the Week

Annunciation and Adoration of the Magi by Fra Angelico

By Alexandra KielyDecember 22, 2019

Our Christmas week Painting of the Week is Annunciation and Adoration of the Magi (c. 1431-2) by Fra Angelico, a panel painting that includes two scenes closely related to the story of Christmas. Fra Angelico (born...
Painting of the Week

Painting of the Week: The Horse Fair by Rosa Bonheur

By Alexandra KielyDecember 8, 2019

Today’s Painting of the Week is The Horse Fair, 1852-5, the great masterpiece of French realist painter Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899). The photograph doesn’t properly convey how massive this painting is! Over 8 feet high and 16.5...
19th Century

Now at the Frick – Manet: Three Paintings from the Norton Simon Museum

By Alexandra KielyDecember 3, 2019

I love small exhibitions, because they allow me to savor each artwork and absorb all sorts of little details I wouldn’t otherwise. Manet: Three Paintings from the Norton Simon Museum, a trio of paintings by Édouard...
Art State of Mind

Book Review: Sister Wendy’s 100 Best-loved Paintings

By Alexandra KielyNovember 9, 2019

Late last year, the art world mourned the death of Sister Wendy Beckett (1930-2018), the quirky British nun who became a world-wide sensation as a television art commentator. Little did we know that the good sister...
Animals

Here Be Medieval Dragons

By Alexandra KielyOctober 24, 2019

Dragons are everywhere in popular culture. People make movies about them, collect stuffed animals of them, and dress up as them for Halloween. They have been staples of every major fantasy series in the past century....