The Art of Jewels: Spinel, The Ruby Impersonator
The spinel, also known as the balas ruby, was first derived from the historic region of Badakshan in Central Asia. These beautiful gemstones usually...
Maya M. Tola 30 December 2023
History
Cameo Carving: The Art of Transforming Shell and Stone
Cameo carving has existed since long before ancient times. These cherished treasures were often made of hardstone, seashells or coral. Historically,...
Marga Patterson 30 December 2023
Lapis Lazuli – A Pigment More Precious Than Gold
Lapis lazuli, once more precious than gold, has a history of over 9000 years. The earliest artifacts found at Bhirrana, which is the oldest site of...
Irina Diana Calu 30 December 2023
What Is a Wunderkammer? Best Cabinets of Curiosities
The characteristic of arousing surprise for the observer is typical for the so-called Wunderkammer or Cabinet of Curiosities. These are real rooms of...
Caroline Galambosova 25 December 2023
The Art of Polish Film Posters
The emergence of the poster as a fresh, creative medium was a timely episode in an unfolding age of consumer expendability. In an era of conveyor...
Jon Kelly 19 December 2023
Controversial or Criminal? Problematic Artists and Cancel Culture
Great art pushes boundaries and challenge norms. But how should we react to works by artists with a history of truly horrifying behaviour?
Candy Bedworth 18 December 2023
Jacob Lawrence and the Great Migration
As a child of the Great Migration, Jacob Lawrence was well placed to undertake such a mammoth task in detailing the journey from the rural South that...
Wendy Gray 18 December 2023
Art in Exile: Refugee Artists Who Found a Welcome in Wales
On International Migrants Day, we remember the persecution of artists by oppressive and authoritarian regimes. Artists who fled the Nazi regime in...
Candy Bedworth 18 December 2023
Practical, Erotic and Magical: The Miniature World of Netsuke
Originating in 17th-century Japan during the Edo Period, Netsuke (pronounced nets-keh) are toggles that attach pouches to the traditional robes,...
Nadine Waldmann 16 December 2023
How Did the Dutch Become Dutch: Propaganda Prints in the Dutch Golden Age
The Golden Age of the Dutch Republic was a flourishing period for culture and economy, yet it wasn’t characterized by peace. The Dutch Republic...
Andreea Iancu 15 December 2023
One Final Masterpiece: 7 Last Paintings from Great Masters
Hippocrates said that life is short, and art is long. Every great artist left behind iconic works of art that have lived long after their death. Some...
Sam Malone 11 December 2023
Masterpiece Story: Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer by Gustav Klimt
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is Gustav Klimt’s most significant work of portraiture. The famous Lady in Gold has as many eye-catching...
Emily Snow 11 December 2023
