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.
Our Dad Is an Artist: Thomas Gainsborough’s Daughters
British portrait and landscape painter Thomas Gainsborough was born on this day in 1727. Happy Birthday! To celebrate, let’s talk about his...
Alexandra Kiely 14 May 2022
Lower Pecos Rock Art: Prehistoric Painting in North America
On the Texas-Mexico border, there are treasures of prehistoric art: hundreds of painted caves and rock shelters dating as early as 2000 BCE. Filled...
Alexandra Kiely 3 May 2022
Is It Fashion or Is It Art? Roberto Capucci’s Sculpture Dresses
Roberto Capucci (b. 1930) is an Italian fashion designer. Or maybe he’s a sculptor. It’s difficult to be sure. Capucci’s sculpture...
Alexandra Kiely 2 May 2022
What the Ermine Saw. The Dark History Behind Lady with an Ermine
What the Ermine Saw: The Extraordinary Journey of Leonardo da Vinci’s Most Mysterious Portrait by Eden Collinsworth (Doubleday, May 24, 2022)...
Alexandra Kiely 25 April 2022
Masterpiece Story: The Horse Fair by Rosa Bonheur
Today’s Masterpiece Story is that of The Horse Fair by French Realist painter Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899). The Horse Fair was the undisputed star...
Alexandra Kiely 23 April 2022
What You Need to Know About Fabergé Easter Eggs
During one of my vacations, I got an unexpected treat – the opportunity to see two amazing collections of Fabergé Easter eggs in two days. One...
Alexandra Kiely 17 April 2022
The Unicorn Tapestries – Allegory of Christ, or a Happy Husband?
The Unicorn Tapestries are a set of medieval tapestries depicting the hunt for a unicorn. They’re probably the most famous tapestries ever, and...
Alexandra Kiely 9 April 2022
Female Painters of the Hudson River School, Part Two
In the previous article on Hudson River School, I introduced six female artists of this important landscape painting movement in 19th-century...
Alexandra Kiely 5 April 2022
Landscape Painters, National Parks, and the American West in Art
The US National Parks are natural and man-made monuments legally set aside for protection and public enjoyment. Yellowstone became the first National...
Alexandra Kiely 5 April 2022
The Medieval Bestiary – Cute, Quirky, and Weird Animals
Of all the medieval manuscripts, bestiaries are definitely the most fun. A medieval bestiary is a book about animals. It’s full of unusual...
Alexandra Kiely 4 April 2022
