John on Patmos and the Book of Revelation
Written in exile at the edge of the Roman Empire, the Book of Revelation unfolds as an apocalypse, a vision that unveils violence, power, and hope. Through medieval manuscript illuminations and Albrecht Dürer’s Apocalypse woodcuts, from the Four Horsemen to the burning city of Babylon, its images reveal patterns of oppression and destruction that continue…
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Albrecht Dürer: Bestseller and Piracy
Albrecht Dürer, the leading artist of sixteenth-century Nuremberg, united artistic innovation with sharp business sense in his woodcut series Life of the Virgin. Published in 1511 with twenty prints and Latin verses, the series became a bestseller. Dürer’s response to widespread copying reveals an early, modern awareness of artistic authorship and copyright.
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Homo Bulla Est – Life is a bubble
In art, the bubble carries many meanings: vanitas, morality, memory, or simply play. Across centuries, children blowing bubbles appear as reminders of life’s fragility and as celebrations of beauty itself. Sometimes heavy with symbolism, sometimes light as air, a bubble is never without significance.
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Pulling the Pretzel
In 17th-century Holland, “pulling the pretzel” was more than a playful game. Jan van Bijlert’s painting shows festivity laced with moral meaning, echoed in emblems, still lifes, and manuscripts. Across centuries, the pretzel appears both as symbol of human frailty and as simple, everyday bread.
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Saint Sebastian and Saint Roch
Discover how Saint Sebastian and Saint Roch became icons of hope during the pandemics of the past. From arrows to dogs (and even a perfect male nude), explore how art turned suffering into strength. A visual journey towards healing, and the powerful symbols that carried people through the Black Death.
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Hagar and her son Ishmael
Ishmael and Isaac: children of one father. It took me a few years writing this story about Hagar and her son Ishmael, and about Abraham, Ishmael’s father. And also about Sarah and her son Isaac, who is Ishmael’s half-brother. Ishmael and Isaac: they are children of one father. It’s not difficult to find paintings on…
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Hercules
Brute Force in a Divine Package Meet Hercules! After writing about Perseus, I now turn to Hercules, another legendary son of Zeus, also born of a mortal mother. Like Perseus, Hercules belongs to the pantheon of Greek mythological heroes, but where Perseus is celebrated for his wit and cunning, Hercules is all about brute strength and…
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Perseus and Medusa
Super Hero and #MeToo After exploring prophets, sinners, and saints from the Biblical tradition, it’s time to turn back to the world of Greek mythology. Let’s start with two of its most iconic figures: Perseus and Medusa. Her story resonates today as a #MeToo narrative; his tale reads like the script of a modern superhero…
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Famous Sinners
Sin, penance and redemption? Maybe yes, maybe no! I’ve been meaning to write about Abraham Bloemaert’s engraving series Six Sinners of the Old and New Testament for some years now. The series features the Apostle Peter, the Apostle Paul, Mary Magdalene, the tax collector Zacchaeus, King Saul, and Judas Iscariot. All are marked by sin; some…
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Saint Anthony
Temptation, Burning Skin Disease, and Care as Cure. After writing about the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah, and more recently about Daniel, I feel it’s time to return to the Saints: who they are, and how to recognise them in art. One saint I’ve long wanted to write about is Saint Anthony. There are several saints…
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Daniel
“Prophet or not, visionary for sure!” Now that I’ve written about Jeremiah and Isaiah, it’s time to turn to Daniel and Ezekiel. These four are known as the Major Prophets, meaning they each have a full “major” book named after them in both the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. Ezekiel is a challenge, though. His visions…
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Isaiah and Jeremiah
“Prophets, Prophecies, and Their Fulfilment” I’ve been thinking for a long time that I want to understand the Prophets better — their role in the Jewish Hebrew Bible, their place in the Christian Old Testament, and even how they appear in New Testament stories about the life of Jesus. But when I look at how…
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Cain and Abel
“Destructive Power of Jealousy” The tale of Cain and Abel is one of the earliest and most poignant stories from the Bible, illustrating themes of jealousy, moral choice, and justice. The narrative begins with Adam and Eve, the first humans created by God, living in the Garden of Eden. This paradise was lost to them…
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The Conversion of Saint Paul on the Way to Damascus
“Saul becomes Paul” The Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul is celebrated on January 25th. This day commemorates the biblical account of the dramatic conversion of Saul, who then becomes the Apostle Paul. According to biblical accounts, Saul was traveling to Damascus with the intention of arresting and persecuting Christians when he experienced a…
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Vertumnus and Pomona
“God of Seasons and Goddess of Orchards” The story of Vertumnus and Pomona comes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a Latin narrative poem from the year 8 CE. Vertumnus, the God of the Seasons, disguised himself as a talkative old woman and attempted to seduce the reclusive Pomona, the Goddess of Orchards. When Vertumnus approached Pomona in the form…
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The King Drinks
“The Three Kings and The Bean King” In the Low Countries, the Feast of Epiphany, or Twelfth Night of Christmas, is known as Drie Koningen (Three Kings). The Christian holiday is traditionally celebrated on January 6th with a festive meal at which friends and relatives gather to eat, drink and be merry. Drie Koningen originated as a…
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Mauritshuis Acquires a Tulip by Balthasar van der Ast
Vase with a “Zomerschoon” or “Summer Beauty” Tulip (1625)
Balthasar van der Ast (1593 – 1657)
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The Seven Sacraments
Rogier van der Weyden’s altarpiece (c.1445) Last week, I visited the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, with a specific goal in mind: Rogier van der Weyden’s masterpiece, “The Seven Sacraments”. My visit was not solely to admire this exquisite triptych but also to delve deeper into the meaning of the seven sacraments. This…
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“The Harvesters” (1565), by Pieter Brueghel the Elder
August, harvest month I had the privilege of spending several weeks in the Dutch countryside this August, surrounded by vast wheat fields, with tractors and combines blending their mechanical prowess reaping the harvest. Amidst the rustic charm and the modern pulse of agricultural machinery, I was reminded of Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s 1565 masterpiece “The Harvesters”. “The Harvesters” is part of a…
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Zeus and Callisto
“…and Hera, the Great Bear and the Smaller Bear” The story of Zeus and Callisto is part of Greek mythology and involves Zeus, the king of the gods, and Callisto, a beautiful nymph and one of the companions of the Artemis, goddess of the hunt and the equivalent of Diana in Roman mythology. Zeus is…
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Zeus and Io
“…and Hera, Hermes and Argus” The story of Zeus and Io is one of the many fascinating tales from Greek mythology. It involves love, deception, and a remarkable transformation. The story is written in various ancient Greek texts, but one of the most well-known versions can be found in Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”. Ovid was a Roman…
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National Gallery acquires Saint Bartholomew by Bernardo Cavallino
Saint Bartholomew (c.1642)
Bernardo Cavallino (1616 – 1656)
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Jonah and the Whale
“Prefiguration of The Resurrection” The prophet Jonah (Yunus يُونُس in Arabic) is a prominent figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He is best known for the biblical story of “Jonah and the Whale” or “Jonah and the Great Fish.” According to the Bible, Jonah was a prophet sent by God to deliver a warning to the…
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Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel: The Four Matriarchs.
Wives of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). In the context of the Jewish and Christian Bible, the term “matriarchs” refers to a group of prominent women who are considered the female founders or ancestral mothers of the Israelite people. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam hold that the patriarchs, along with their primary wives, the matriarchs…
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Lucas van Leyden, The Twelve Apostles
Lucas van Leyden was a Dutch Renaissance painter and printmaker. He was born in Leiden, The Netherlands, in 1494, and died there in 1533 at the age of 39. Lucas van Leyden was one of the most important artists of the Northern Renaissance. He was known for his intricate and detailed engravings in various genres,…
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The Twelve Apostles
In religious contexts, the term “apostles” typically refers to the twelve individuals chosen by Jesus Christ to be his closest followers and to spread his teachings. They are also known as the Twelve Apostles or the Apostles of Jesus. The apostles played a significant role in the development and early spread of Christianity. They witnessed…
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Jael, Judith, David and Samson. True Heroes!
Jael, Samson, Judith and David are heroes from the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament who risked their own lives to save their people from the enemy. They are unlikely but true heroes, charming, clever and cunning, and in the case of Samson fighting with physical strength. Paintings with these true heroes had often a…
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The Annunciation to the Virgin Mary, March 25
Today 25th of March is the feast of The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son through a virgin birth and become the mother of Jesus Christ. It’s easy to remember this date,…
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The Four Seasons
Spring is in the air! I wrote about Winter in Art not so long ago. The pictures in that story were all about keeping ourselves warm in the cold season. It made me so much longing for Spring and Summer, even Autumn would be fine. Can the dark winter days be gone please, and will…
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National Gallery, London – Turner on Tour
“Cologne” and “Dieppe”, two exceptional Turners, are on view in the National Gallery London. An exhibition with only 2 painting, how great is that! On loan from the Frick, NY. Until 19 Feb 2023.
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Winter in art
See how the abstract terms “winter” and “cold” are visualised in art. Baby, it’s cold outside, but these works of art give a warm feeling. Ten pieces with short descriptions; enjoy and be well. The days are getting longer!
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Courtauld Gallery, London
Courtauld Gallery, London. Boutique Museum with wonderful French Impressionists: Renoir, Manet, Cézanne, Seurat, Van Gogh, all of them. And no Museum Fatigue. Off the beaten track, go and see it!
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The Louvre: Things, a History of Still Life
The Louvre presents: Things, a History of Still Life. A revolutionary view on Nature Morte and showing that there is still life in still lifes. Here are my favourites!
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Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Clara the Rhino embarked in 1741 on a grand European tour. A Jurassic Park style celebrity, Clara would have become an Instagram hero these days. Some flashes from the Clara the Rhinoceros exhibition in Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.
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The San Diego Museum of Art
San Diego Museum of Art. “Art of the Americas” and the real treasures! Eclectic collection and not-too-big building. No museum fatigue!
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The Visitation: Mary meets Elizabeth
Christmas is coming! But what did Mary do in those 9 moths before giving birth to Jesus? She met and stayed for 3 months with Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Two Holy Mothers had their “Visitation”! Telling this story in art; enjoy!
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Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
“The Hippest Museum In Town…” The Hammer Museum is an art museum and cultural centre in Los Angeles, known for its artist-centric and progressive array of exhibitions and public programs. Founded in 1990 by the entrepreneur-industrialist Armand Hammer, the museum has since expanded its scope to become “the hippest and most culturally relevant institution in…
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The Four Church Fathers
How to recognise “Church Fathers” in art? They all have their fairytale legends and that helps! Read about beehives and honey, spooning the ocean empty, and how to befriend a lion!
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Icarus
Icarus, flying high before the fall! A perfect example of “hubris”, being over confident and too ambitious. It comes with a risk. Read the story about Icarus and flying to the sun!
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Europa
Europe! Where is the name coming from? Princess Europa got abducted by a bullyish Zeus (yes, indeed, disguised as a bull!) and became the founding mother of the European continent! Confused? You won’t be after this episode of Europa in Art! Enjoy.
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Ganymedes
Pride month! Let’s look at Ganymedes, a most beautiful hero from Greek mythology and a major symbol of homosexual love in the visual and literal arts.
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Saint Lazarus
“The Walking Dead” Today July 29 is the official celebration day of two sisters and a brother: Martha, Mary and Lazarus. They are from Bethany, a city on the West Bank close to Jerusalem. And it’s the place where Lazarus miraculously resurrected from death, through the hand of Jesus, four days after his entombment. This…
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Saint Christopher and Atlas
“The World On Your Shoulders” Today July 25 is the day of Saint Christopher, since the dark Middle Ages the patron saint of travellers and nowadays also the protector of motorists. He is a popular saint, but there is no certainty that he really existed. In 1969 his name was dropped from the official calendar of the Catholic…
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The Olympian Gods
This is a 101 crash course in Greek and Roman gods. In ancient Greek mythology, twelve Olympian gods and goddesses ruled over the affairs of mankind from their palace on Mount Olympus. Besides this canon of major deities, many other gods, half-gods, human offspring and heroes visited the Olympus, and these twelve Olympians descended frequently…
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Saint Joseph
“Carpenter from Nazareth” Today March 19th is the day dedicated to Saint Joseph. Who is he? Joseph is one of the three members of the Holy Family, together with the Virgin Mary and her child Jesus. He is a carpenter from Nazareth and a widower, who married the Virgin Marry at that time already pregnant with Jesus. The virgin birth of Jesus is the Christian…
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March and the god Mars
March is the month named after Mars, in Roman mythology the God of War. He is also an agricultural guardian. The month March, opening the year of farming, is considered the start of the year for the Roman calendar, which had only ten months. With March being the first, September is number seven, October number eight…
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Gerard ter Borch (1617 – 1681) and writing letters.
Gerard ter Borch, 1617 – 1681, was a highly skilled Dutch Golden Age painter, who influenced his fellow Dutch colleagues Metsu, Dou and certainly also Vermeer. Ter Borch painted men and women, mistress and servant, soldiers and civilians, in the sanctum of guard room and home and hinting at their love lives. As this is the pre-email and…
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Asparagus in Art
The end of the traditional asparagus season is June 24th, which is the day of the Christian celebration of the nativity of John the Baptist. Asparagus, the “White Gold”, is nowadays available much longer, but traditionally it’s a real season-vegetable. In ancient Greece, asparagus was considered a plant with sacred and aphrodisiac virtues. Starting in…
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Herring in Holland
The Herring Season 2020 starts tomorrow June 12th and from that day on, the “Hollandse Nieuwe” (New Dutch Herring) can be eaten everywhere, mostly as a street-food snack with finely sliced onion and pickles. A whole herring is consumed raw and often eaten by lifting the herring by its tail, tilt your head back, and then eat the herring by lowering it into your mouth. The painting above…
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Thomas de Keyser (c.1596 – 1667)
Thomas de Keyser (c. 1596–1667) was a Dutch painter, stone merchant and architect. His father was the famous Amsterdam architect and sculptor, Hendrick de Keyser (1565 – 1621). Thomas was buried on this day June 7th, 1667, in the family vault in the Zuiderkerk (Southern Church) in Amsterdam. Thomas de Keyser excelled as a portrait painter and was the preeminent portraitist of…
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Hendrick Avercamp (1585 – 1634) and playing golf on ice
It’s winter. But the real winters are far behind us. When will we skate again on frozen rivers? Let’s have a look at the Dutch 17th century winter-wonderland paintings by Hendrick Avercamp. And let’s speak about those harsh winters and about the Dutch as the inventors of playing golf. First about the harsh winters. In the…
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Mary and the Immaculate Conception
Today December 8th is the day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. It’s one of the major Christian feast days and it’s a holiday in many Catholic countries. But what is it about; what is the Immaculate Conception of Mary? First of all: do not confuse it with Mary’s virginal conception of her son…
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Narcissus and Echo
Meet Narcissus and Echo! Although we know them already, as they are around us every day and everywhere. But originally they are two mythological characters from the “Metamorphoses”, an 1st century book in Latin, by the Roman poet Ovid. Let’s start with Narcissus. He was in those ancient mythological times a most beautiful young man. One…
Keep readingWillem Claesz. Heda (1594 – 1680)
Let’s have Sunday brunch 17th Century style! And that’s best done with Willem Claesz. Heda, Dutch Golden Age painter from Haarlem, The Netherlands. He specialized in the genre of “banketjes” and “ontbijtjes” (banquets and breakfasts), and most of them in a monochrome manner. Not much known about his life, not even an exact date of…
Keep readingAssumption of Mary
Today August 15 is the official feast day of the “Assumption of Mary”. It’s a holiday in many, mostly Catholic, countries. But what is it about and how has it been depicted in art? This day is to celebrate that the Holy Virgin Mary, mother of Christ, is taken up into Heaven at the end…
Keep readingHans Memling (1430 – 1494)
Hans Memling from Bruges, Belgium, died on this day August 11 in 1494. Besides producing the standard devotional paintings, he also became one of the most sought-after Netherlandish portrait painters. He invented an unique and totally new style of portrait, with a landscape in the background, as if the sitter is portrayed outside or in…
Keep readingSaint Lawrence
It’s August 10, the feast day of Saint Lawrence. Who is he and how to recognize him in art? Lawrence was a deacon of the Christian Church in 3rd Century Rome. The Roman Emperor of that time prosecuted the Christians and ordered Lawrence to hand over all the riches of the Church. Lawrence thought differently…
Keep readingGiuseppe Arcimboldo (1527 – 1593)
It’s summer; fruits and veggies galore! So, let’s speak about Giuseppe Arcimboldo, an Italian painter who spent his whole career at the Habsburg court, in Vienna for Emperor Maximilian II and later in Prague for Rudolph II. Arcimboldo was highly successful during his lifetime, but soon forgotten after his death. Only in the 1930s Arcimboldo…
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Mary Magdalene
July 22nd is the feast day of Mary Magdalene. But who is she, and how to recognize her in art? If there had been more gender equality in the days of Jesus, than Mary Magdalene certainly would have become one of the 12 Apostles. She was the number one female follower of Jesus and is…
Keep readingSir Joshua Reynolds (1723 – 1792)
July 16th, 1723, birth of Joshua Reynolds. English painter and the most fashionable portraitist of the 18th Century elegant society of England. As a young painter he made his grand European tour and studied all the Italian Old Masters. This influenced his style of painting, which we now know as the Grand Style. His clients…
Keep readingAdriaen Coorte (active 1683 – 1707)
It’s summer; fruits and vegetables galore! And that’s what Adriaen Coorte painted. Mini still lifes, the size of a postcard, often painted just on paper. Around 60 of these fragile works of beauty still exist and were mostly collected by the 17th Century elite in the province of Zeeland in the south-western part of The…
Keep readingFerdinand Bol (1616 – 1680)
On June 24th, 1616, birth of Ferdinand Bol, celebrity-portrait painter of the Dutch Golden Age. Bol married himself into the Amsterdam high society of merchants and the Dutch Admiralty with their naval heroes. Always being compared to Rembrandt, Bol went his own way and became very successful and famous. His style of painting is less…
Keep readingHan Huang 韓滉 (723 – 787)
Han Huang (韓滉) was a Chinese painter from the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). But he was also a high ranking court official under a range of Chinese Tang Emperors. Han painted “Five Oxen (五牛圖)” and it is said that in this painting he shows to the Emperor his loyalty and hardworking dedication, like the…
Keep readingFrans Hals (1582 – 1666), a family (portrait) reunited!
This is the story of a rich merchant family from 17th Century Haarlem in The Netherlands. Or it’s actually the story of a portrait of that family. Gijsbrecht and Maria van Campen celebrated in 1624 their 20th wedding anniversary, by ordering a family portrait from the famous Dutch painter Frans Hals. They wanted to be…
Keep readingJohn Constable (1776 – 1837)
On June 11th, 1776, birth of John Constable, English landscape painter. Now considered one of the greatest English painters, but during his life more successful outside England than at home. From Suffolk, England, Constable spent almost his whole life painting the local landscape, with clouds full of rain. His paintings show the England we know…
Keep readingPentecost
What is Pentecost and how is it depicted in art? Pentecost (UK: Whitsunday; NL: Pinksteren) is a Christian holy day, that must be seen in connection with Easter and the Ascension of Christ. It’s celebrated 50 days after Easter Sunday, and 10 days after Ascension Day. The word “Pentecost” comes from the Greek word “Πεντηκοστή”…
Keep readingSaint Luke the Evangelist
Who is Saint Luke and how to recognize him in art? Luke is one of the Four Evangelists and the author of the Gospel of Luke, one of the New Testament books that describe the life of Christ. Luke is definitely a historic figure, who lived in the 1st Century and originally came from the…
Keep readingJan Lievens (1607 – 1674)
On the 4th of June 1674, death of Jan Lievens, Dutch Golden Age painter and friend, colleague and rival of Rembrandt. Only a year younger than Rembrandt, they grew up together in Leiden and shared a studio in Amsterdam. Rembrandt became the well known favorite of all times, and Lievens always stayed in his shadow.…
Keep readingThe Four Evangelists
The Four Evangelists are the ones who wrote the four gospels in the New Testament, which is the second volume of the Bible. These gospels describe the life of Christ and are therefore in essence four times the same story but written by four different authors. The word “evangelist” comes from the Greek word εὐ-αγγέλιον…
Keep readingPeter Paul Rubens (1577 – 1640)
On the 30th of May, 1640, death of Peter Paul Rubens, the most important Baroque painter from the Flemish Netherlands. Rubens was not only a well-educated scholar and painter, but also businessman and diplomat. He made religious altarpieces, portraits of royalty, mythological paintings and hunting landscapes. All his paintings are impressive big pieces with lots…
Keep readingMannerism
Mannerism is a European art style that follows Renaissance and precedes Baroque, originating in Italy around 1520 and spreading over Europe. Mannerism lasted until the end of the 16th Century, when Mannerism gradually turned into the Baroque style. How did Mannerism originate and what is it all about? The artists from the Renaissance, like Michelangelo…
Keep readingAlbrecht Dürer (1471 – 1528)
On the 21st of May, 1471, birth of Albrecht Dürer, painter, drawer and printmaker, and one of the key artists of the Northern Renaissance. Dürer’s printmaking has been of immense influence on generations of painters, all of whom had printmakers copy their works in prints, to be able to distribute their art. Dürer was born in Nuremberg,…
Keep readingLeonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519)
Today 500 years ago, on May 2, 1519, Leonardo da Vinci dies in Amboise in France. He spent his last years in the service of his good friend Francis I, King of France. Already during his lifetime considered a super genius, and now thought to be one of the greatest artists and scientists of all…
Keep readingJules Breton (1827 – 1906)
Jules Breton, born on the 1st of May, 1827, was a 19th-century French Romantic-Realist painter. His paintings are influenced by the French countryside and rural peasant life. Breton transmits the hardship of rural existence into romantic and idyllic beauty. Here is his painting “The Song Of The Lark”, from 1884. The poor farmer girl has a…
Keep readingJoaquín Sorolla (1863 – 1923)
On February 27, 1863, birth of Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, Spanish impressionist painter. Famous for painting people and landscapes under the bright Spanish sunlight and with sunlit water. Here is Sorolla’s “Paseo a Orillas del Mar” (Walk on the Beach), painted on the beach of Valencia and depicting his wife Clotilde and daughter Maria. The…
Keep readingOdilon Redon (1840 – 1916)
On April 20, 1840, birth of Odilon Redon. French symbolist painter who combined the macabre with beauty and light. Redon’s paintings are a synthesis of nightmares and dreams, as in “Ophelia among the Flowers” from 1905. Ophelia is a character from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Towards the end of the the play she drowns in a pond,…
Keep readingJacob van Hulsdonck (1582 – 1647)
Jacob van Hulsdonck, born April 26, 1582, Flemish painter of still-lives and flowers. Here are his Roses in a Glass Vase. It’s white and red roses, plus an eglantine-rose (Dutch: “egelantier”) in the top left of the picture. Executed with great precision throughout, from the water droplets on the petals to the maybeetle in the…
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