The national art gallery of Scotland was originally referred to as the National Galleries of Scotland and is currently called the Scottish National Gallery. It’s located on an elevated area known as “The Mound” in the historical heart of Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh. The collection is housed in a Neoclassical building that was designed by one …
Paintings
The identity of a woman painted by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (1483-1520) shortly before he passed away has been up for debate, even though many art historians have somewhat reached a consensus about the matter. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about “La Fornarina,” a painting by Raphael also …
If you’re interested in some of the finest works of art of the most renowned Realism, Impressionist, and Post-Impressionist artists, then there’s one place you simply have to visit, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. The museum is housed in one of the most extraordinary train stations in the world that was completed in the late …
Although Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) didn’t complete a whole lot of paintings during his lifetime, he can definitely be considered one of the most influential artists of the Renaissance. His talent was so obvious from a young age that he quickly outgrew the talent of his master Andrea del Verrochio (1435-1488) and went his own …
The turbulent life of Caravaggio (1571-1610) took a dramatic turn when he had to flee his native Milan for Rome in the early 1590s. One brawl too many supposedly caused serious harm to a police officer, even though this story has never been confirmed. Either way, he was so talented that his distinctive paintings inspired …
One of the most famous paintings in the world depicts one of the best-known Christian stories. Even though The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci only lasted a couple of decades due to the experimental use of materials by the Italian polymath, it’s still considered to be one of the world’s ultimate treasures. The Renaissance …
Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), one of the greatest masters of the Baroque period, traveled all across Europe for extended periods. He did, however, have a home city where he established a huge workshop. The city of Antwerp is one of the biggest port cities in the world and is located in modern-day Belgium. …
Just like many other famous museums in the world, the Vatican Museums started rather humbly. The beginnings can be traced back to the purchase of just one sculpture called “Laocoön and His Sons.” This ancient sculpture was excavated in the year 1506, a time when Pope Julius II employed some of the most famous Renaissance …
Italian artist of the Renaissance Tiziano Vecelli (1488-1576), better known as “Titian,” offered to paint a series of paintings for a notorious king in the 16th century. Even though his initial offer was rejected, another king agreed for him to complete the series. One of these remarkable works in the oeuvre of Titian depicts a …
One of the most fascinating works of the Greek artist of the Spanish Renaissance named Domḗnikos Theotokópoulos (1541-1614), better known by his nickname “El Greco,” was also his final one. This work is known as “The Adoration of the Shepherds” and was painted for a very particular purpose. Let’s take a closer look at this …