What is a mosaic? Examples from Aztec, Roman, Thai, Islamic, and Byzantine Art
This video focuses on understanding mosaics, both how they are made and the materials they are made from.
June in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry
Barefoot peasants are shown raking hay and cutting grass under a clear blue sky, offering a glimpse into life in the Middle Ages.
The Wild Beasts of Modern Art: The Fauvists
In 1905, Henri Matisse painted his wife in shocking hues of green, blue, pink, and orange, and changed art history forever.
Anna Atkins and Cyanotypes
Some of the earliest forms of photography didn't need a camera.
May Calendar Page in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry
In a scene from the medieval illuminated manuscript known as Très Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry, aristocrats have a May celebration in the forest.
What is cloisonné?
Discovered during an archaeological dig at Sutton Hoo, a shoulder-clasp’s intricate craftsmanship helps us understand cloisonné.
Francisco de Zurbarán's Saint Lucy and Spanish Baroque Realism
Francisco de Zurbarán's Saint Lucy is a notable example of Spanish Baroque realism from 1625–30.
April Calendar Page in the Medieval Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry
In a scene from the medieval illuminated manuscript known as Très Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry, nobles gather for a wedding and to pick wildflowers.
Raphael, Portrait of Julius II—The Warrior Pope
The Renaissance artist Raphael depicted the powerful and controversial Pope Julius II in a portrait painted around 1511.
How to Do a Visual Analysis in Art History: A Formal Analysis of Painting
This video explains how to do a visual analysis (formal analysis) of a painting—Albrecht Dürer’s image of Saint Jerome.
The Medieval Irish Bell-Shrine of St. Mura
This video examines the Irish medieval Bell-Shrine of St. Mura, a relic and reliquary that gives us insight into early Christianity, faith, and community in the early Middle Ages in Ireland.
March in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry
What did March look like in the Middle Ages? A famous illuminated manuscript gives us insight!
What is a cartoon? | Leonardo da Vinci’s Burlington House Cartoon
A large drawing by Leonardo da Vinci shows an intimate grouping of figures: Saint Anne, the Virgin Mary, the infant Jesus Christ, and John the Baptist. The work is known as a “cartoon.”
What is Neoclassicism?
Jacques-Louis David's The Death of Socrates is one of the best expressions of Neoclassicism paintings in Art History—find out why!
February in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry
What did February look like in the Middle Ages? A famous illuminated manuscript gives us insight!
What is Rococo Art?
Fragonard's The Swing embodies the Rococo, an 18th-century art movement, which is one of the most distinctive in art history for its elegance, sensuality, and fascination with pleasure.
What is tempera paint? Explore with Paolo Uccello’s Battle of San Romano
Because tempera must be applied in many thin, quickly drying layers, its technique demanded precision and planning, helping explain the jewel-like detail and refined surfaces of Uccello’s work.
What is oil paint? Explore with Jan van Eyck's Annunciation
Jan’s mastery of light, color, and texture brings this divine moment to life. How did he do it? With oil paint!
Eleanora di Toledo, Duchess of Florence
In a spectacular portrait of Eleonora di Toledo, the second Duchess of Florence, she sits beside her young son Giovanni.