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

19th Century

Cézanne: The Rock and Quarry Paintings at Princeton University
By Alexandra KielyMarch 19, 2020
Cézanne: The Rock and Quarry Paintings is a new exhibition at the Princeton University Art Museum. Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) is a familiar artist to most of us, but this show is the first to feature an...
Special Occasion And News

Five Great Female Art Patrons in History
By Alexandra KielyMarch 1, 2020
Women’s History Month begins today. So it’s time to celebrate the many women who have made their mark on art history. Here, we’ll meet five female art patrons with impeccable taste and amazing collections. Female art...
Architecture

These Gifs Bring Eight Buildings from Paintings Into the Real World
By Alexandra KielyFebruary 26, 2020
If you’ve ever tried to imagine what it would be like to visit buildings from paintings you know and love, these fun gifs can help you out! Last year, we featured some cool gifs showing real-world...
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....
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...