Medieval Fibulae
Fibulae (singular: fibula) are most commonly associated today with the medieval Germanic tribes migrating across Europe in the 5th to 7th centuries, but they were not unique to these groups.
Hand Scrolls vs. Hanging Scrolls in Chinese Art
What is the difference between a handscroll and a hanging scroll mounting in Chinese ink painting?
Spondylus Shell in the Kingdom of Chimor in the Ancient Andes
The Chimú kingdom of Chimor thrived along the coast of what is now Peru, growing wealthy in part because of the Spondylus shell.
Paleolithic Handaxes or Bifaces
This video explores one of the most remarkable objects in human history: the Acheulean hand axe.
The Chimaera of Arezzo
The Chimaera of Arezzo is a bronze sculpture of a fire-breathing monster from ancient Greek mythology.
July Calendar Page in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry
A calendar page from the famous medieval manuscript, the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, focuses on peasants harvesting wheat and shearing sheep during July and also shows the Palace of Poitiers in France.
Remedios Varo, The Call (La Llamada)
Remedios Varo was deeply interested in the occult, mysticism, magic, astrology, witchcraft, and more, and she explored these ideas alongside close friends like Leonora Carrington while they lived in Mexico City.
Vairocana Buddha at Fengxian Temple at Longmen Grottoes
Carved into the hard limestone cliffside in the 7th century CE, the Fengxian temple features a monumental 56-foot-high image of the Vairocana Buddha.
Tezcatlipoca: Identifying Aztec Deities
Learn how to identify the Aztec (Mexica) god Tezcatlipoca ("Smoking Mirror") in art.
The Merode Altarpiece (Annunciation Triptych), Workshop of Robert Campin
Created in the workshop of Robert Campin around 1430, the Mérode Altarpiece is an outstanding example of Northern Renaissance painting.
Xu Gu’s “Cat and Butterfly” and the xieyi style
This video explores a 19th-century Chinese ink painting titled Cat and Butterfly by Xu Gu.
Leonora Carrington, Kitchen Garden on the Eyot and Surrealism in Mexico
Modern surrealist artist Leonora Carrington often turned to alchemy, magic, mythical creatures, the occult, folklore, fairy tales, and more.
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.
Pictures of Beautiful Women (Bijinga) by Suzuki Harunobu in Edo Japan
Explore an 18th-century Japanese woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu featuring a contemporary beauty in the city of Edo (Tokyo), flirting with a young samurai.
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.
Camelid Sacrum in the Shape of a Canine, Tequixquiac, Meixco
Could this camelid sacrum bone be one of the oldest artworks in North America, made 16,000 years ago?
What is Jade (Jadeite) in Mesoamerica?
Jadeite was a precious material in Mesoamerica among the Olmec, Maya, and others.
Porcelain Dish with Design of the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido
Explore a 19th-century blue-and-white porcelain dish that connects to Japanese Edo-period game boards and woodblock prints by the famed printmaker Ando Hiroshige.
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.