If you visit one of the most stunning libraries in the United States, you also have the chance to admire one of the most amazing Romanesque artworks in the world. Considered to be an absolute masterpiece of Medieval art, this relatively small shrine has a history that goes back to the 12th century. Let’s take …
When an ancient sculpture was discovered in Rome in the early 16th century, the new Pope decided to buy it and put it on public display. The year was 1506 and Pope Julius II hired some of the most famous artists in history to produce art for his collection. He also acquired many sculptures and …
There’s hardly a better place to admire ancient sculptures than at the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, the small Papal enclave in central Rome. Considered to be one of the ultimate highlights of the sculpture collection, this ancient work certainly emphasizes the sophisticated nature of artists thousands of years ago. In this article, we’ll take …
The Republic of Florence was a powerful state that was established in 1115 and ended up being absorbed by the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1569. It was centered around the largest city in Tuscany, Florence, the cultural heart of Central Italy in which some of the most renowned Renaissance artists in history emerged. Yes, …
When Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) moved to Rome with his family as a young boy, he barely left the city. After all, he had sworn to decorate the city and its most amazing buildings, and that’s exactly what he did for most of his long career. Because he was one of the most renowned Baroque …
Three distinguished guests from abroad visited Baby Jesus Christ shortly after his birth. They brought lavish gifts for the Son of God, including gold, frankincense, and myrrh. That’s the story according to the Gospel of Matthew, the only of the gospels to mention them. It has been widely adopted in Christianity and is a famous …
One of the greatest museums in London is located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, a Borough in the western part of Central London which has royal status. The Victoria and Albert Museum, commonly referred to as the V&A, was established in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert. …
The transition between the Dark Ages and the Romanesque era happened around 1000 A.D. Romanesque Artworks were produced all around Europe during this phase of the Middle Ages. The exact moment that the transition between Romanesque art and Gothic art happened remains a bit obscure. Gothic art emerged in northern France in the 12th century. …
The Dark Ages is a term that emerged in the 14th century to describe the cultural decline of Western Europe following the Fall of the Western Roman Empire. This decline included the stop of monumental construction projects and the creation of artworks. Europe gradually crawled out of this dark hole and as certain regions such …
When an architectural competition was launched in the 17th century to design a new fountain in Rome, there was only going to be one winner. Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) was the most renowned architect and artist of the Baroque era and he left a permanent mark on the city by designing various monuments and buildings …