Equestrian portraits explained
How would you like to be remembered? This is a key question for anyone having their portrait created, including the ancient Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius on horseback.
Teaching Ancient China
Read about our first new landing page, which is all about the arts of ancient China, from the Neolithic Period through the Zhou Dynasty.
New multimedia glossary for art history
ARTSQ launches a multimedia glossary of important symbols, subject matter, materials, and techniques in art history.
What is a halo?
Focusing on Andrea Mantegna's painting of Saint George, this video considers what a halo is and why it is used in art.
What is lacquer?
In this video, we dive into East Asian lacquer, featuring a gorgeous red-and-black lacquer plate dated to the 3rd century BCE.
Han Gan, Night-Shining White
This famous traditional Chinese ink painting, currently in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a portrait of Tang emperor Xuanzong’s favorite horse, Night-Shining White.
Chinese Music for the Dead: The Marquis Yi of Zeng’s Bells
In the 1970s, archaeologists in China made one of the most impressive archaeological discoveries in world history from the tomb of a marquis (the Marquis Yi of Zeng) who lived and died in south China in the 5th century BCE.
Aztec feather art more precious than gold (featherworks)
Feather objects like feathered headdresses were popular for much of Mesoamerican history, and the Aztecs of Central Mexico created some of the most spectacular featherworks that still survive.
Getting to know Hokusai’s The Great Wave
Hokusai’s The Great Wave print isn’t just famous in Japanese art, but it is one of the most recognizable images in the history of art worldwide!
A symbol of Heaven? A Chinese jade bi disk
What can a jade disk crafted in Neolithic China tell us about the cosmos? These circular disks may be connected to early Chinese views of the universe that consisted of a square Earth and a round (circular) canopy that represented Heaven.
The largest pyramid in the world
The largest pyramid in the world isn’t in Egypt. Do you know where it is?
The Nazca Lines in Ancient Peru
Learn about the famous Nazca Lines, ancient geoglyphs in Peru.
The death mask of the most famous ancient Maya king
When archaeologists managed to slide the lid off a sarcophagus and look inside, they found Pakal’s body covered in jade ornaments. A jade mask covered Pakal’s face. And all of these helped to transform him into the Maize God!
Little luxurious llamas in the Inka Empire
Golden and silver llamas made by Inka artists more than 500 years ago in South America are tiny and shiny. These cute figurines give us some insight into the powerful and massive Inka Empire, which had about 12 million people in it at its height!
Tlatilco culture and an ancient fish figurine in Mesoamerica
Dive into the captivating world of ancient Central Mexico with a vibrant figurine showing a fish!
Bones and the Zapotec at ancient Monte Albán | Mesoamerican Art
Get to know a little about bones in art and ancient Zapotec culture at Monte Albán in Oaxaca, Mexico.
The Illusion of the Terracotta Army, Tomb of the First Emperor of China
The tomb of the First Emperor of China, who died in 210 BCE, was never excavated, but in the 1970s three pits were found nearby that contained a terracotta army! These pits contained over 8,000 life-size terracotta warriors lined up in trenches in military formation.
The Aztec Sun Stone or “Calendar Stone”: The most famous Aztec artwork
The most famous Aztec artwork—the “Calendar Stone” or Sun Stone, today in Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology
A journey into paradise at the Phoenix Hall in Japan
Travel back in time to explore the Phoenix Hall at Byōdō-in Temple in Uji, Japan and Pure Land Buddhism. Learn about the origins of this magnificent temple and how it symbolizes the teachings of Buddhism.