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Among the unique works of high Tuscan craftsmanship is the art of hard stones, realized through the creation of pieces in commesso or Florentine mosaic. A tradition that established itself in the 16th century, leaving us enchanting examples of unsurpassed mastery and originality that endure to this day.
But how did this art originate and evolve? And with which techniques? Let’s explore together.
Clergymen, knights, kings, and princes, but also children, noblewomen, saints, and courtesans: many subjects are portrayed wearing or handling jewelry and precious objects. But what are the functions of these painted ornaments? And what are the intentions behind them?
Tracing the history of jewelry in art means simultaneously retracing that of goldsmithing, fashion, culture, and commerce. It’s a fascinating journey that can hardly be contained within the space of a single article.
In his essay “the gesture in art,” André Chastel warns readers about an unconscious mechanism that occurs whenever we encounter a painting with human figures. If the subject or scene depicted is familiar to us, then the gestures represented seem simple to understand; but when we do not know them, those same gestures become one of the privileged tools for deciphering the theme of the work.
Understanding the meaning of the most common gestures in Renaissance art can provide a new key to interpretation, even for works that are already well-known and seemingly obvious.
Few things can evoke contrasting feelings like still life, especially older ones: some are passionate about it, while others consider it a minor genre. To better understand its importance and charm, let’s retrace its history and evolution, focusing particularly on the 17th century, to which some of the most famous still lifes belong.
Historically, portraits were the prerogative of the nobility until the Renaissance, when a new social class, the mercantile class, emerged, capable of commissioning works and portraits from the great artists of the time. This genre thus spread significantly. Of Raffaello, one of the most renowned artists, we have numerous testimonies today: 5 of his most famous portraits prove it.
Navigating through movements, terms, and artists can be complicated, especially when dealing with periods far removed from our own. This is also the case with modern art. Adding to the complexity is the fact that, contrary to common belief, modern art does not coincide with the era commonly defined as modern and contemporary (starting from the late 19th century). Instead, it covers the period from the second half of the 15th century onward.
And it is this period that we address in our brief guide to modern art styles, focusing particularly on Italy.
Today, we highly value the self-portrait and almost take its existence for granted, but this was not always the case. Like other genres, it has evolved over time. The seeds of this particular artistic category were sown during the Renaissance, an era of great cultural renewal that brought the self-portrait into the limelight in new forms that are still admired today.
“An overwhelming, hallucinatory beauty”, “so beautiful it hurts”: there are several expressions like these or similar in common language. In these sayings, the aesthetic aspect of something or someone seems to have an almost harmful effect on the viewer. Sure, these are hyperbolic phrases, but there is a phenomenon that is not far from what they describe: Stendhal syndrome.
Let’s see what it is about.
What kind of character did Michelangelo have? What is Van Gogh’s story? And how did Pollock achieve success? Movies often reveal little-known aspects or events and offer new interpretations of the personalities and lives of even the most famous artists. The relationship between cinema and art is long and prolific: in this article, we have selected 10 titles that should be in the filmography of any enthusiast of the genre.
The Devil has always assumed multiple forms in art, influenced by different traditions and cultural references, even among artists of the same era. The evolution of this essential figure (Evil opposing Good) is multifaceted and not always consistent.
In this article, we will analyze some of the prominent and easily recognizable traits of the Devil, concluding with a captivating and convincing interpretation.
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