#italy

Architecture

Red Porphyry: Symbol of Imperial Power

Red porphyry is a rare dense stone from a remote quarry in the Egyptian desert. It bears a striking red and purple hue that commanded great interest...

Maya M. Tola 12 October 2023

Renaissance

The Medici Dynasty. Rich Sinners or Saintly Rulers?

The Medici family was definitely one of the richest dynasties in Renaissance Italy and perhaps they were the most influential patrons of the arts in...

James Wray 2 October 2023

Caravaggio David with the Head of Goliath, c. 1610, Galleria Borghese, Rome, Italy. Artist Stories

How Did Caravaggio Die? The Answer Is Not Easy

Caravaggio was a great artist, no doubt about it, but he was also rowdy. An early published notice on him, dating from 1604 and describing his...

Zuzanna Stańska 28 September 2023

Art Travels

Beyond the Biennale – Top Five Art Museums to Visit in Venice

Venice, with its long history, is an open museum that will leave none unsatisfied. La Serenissima is a dream destination for every art lover. Apart...

Anastasia Manioudaki 27 September 2023

Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: The Tribuna of the Uffizi by Johan Zoffany

Johan Zoffany (1733-1810) was a German-born neoclassical painter. In the autumn of 1760, he moved to England and started to work for a clockmaker,...

Klaudia Zelazowska 26 September 2023

Baroque

David and Goliath Painting Re-Attributed to Artemisia Gentileschi

Baroque master Artemisia Gentileschi’s long-hidden signature has been discovered in a 17th-century David and Goliath painting. The work was...

Alexandra Kiely 8 September 2023

Artist Stories

Too Much Love Will Kill You – The Death of Raphael

Raphael Santi, one of the greatest Renaissance painters died on Good Friday in 1520. He was only 37 years old and at the peak of his artistic powers.

Zuzanna Stańska 31 August 2023

Renaissance

The Mystery of Mantegna Tarocchi

The Mantegna Tarocchi, also known as the Tarocchi Cards, or Tarocchi in the style of Mantegna is a double series of 50 instructional engravings...

Zuzanna Stańska 28 August 2023

Art Travels

Wishes & Streams: Trevi Fountain in Rome

During long, warm summer days it is hard not to dream about much-needed holidays. With that said I was reminded of my visit to Rome some time ago...

Nadine Waldmann 27 August 2023

Medieval Art

Ravenna’s Byzantine Treasures: Mosaics in San Vitale

The early medieval church of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy, is most famous for its spectacular mosaics. In a city full of rich, Byzantine-style...

Alexandra Kiely 21 August 2023

Art History 101

Everything You Must Know About the Manifesto of Futurism

Futurism is one of those avant-garde movements of the 20th century which left its mark on modern art. The center of interest of Futurists was the...

Zuzanna Stańska 20 August 2023

Painting

Before Boccioni Turned Futurist

Very few artists developed their styles early in their careers. Most of them searched for new means of expression their entire lives, often making...

Magda Michalska 20 August 2023