A Window into the Middle Ages: The Sketchbook of Villard de Honnecourt
Rediscovered in the 19th century, the sketchbook of Villard de Honnecourt quickly captivated historians and art enthusiasts as one of the most fascinating…
Centaurs vs. Sirens: A Medieval Showdown
What do a half-man, half-horse archer and a seductive half-fish siren have in common? In medieval art, they engage in an eternal struggle, symbolising the battle between vice and virtue.
Reviving a Medieval Masterpiece: Donatello’s Gattamelata Restoration Begins
Donatello’s iconic equestrian statue of Gattamelata, a pioneering medieval masterpiece, has just begun a long-awaited restoration in Padua. Supported by international organizations, this project aims to preserve the statue’s beauty and structural integrity for future generations.
New Medieval Books: Lumen: The Art and Science of Light
This book, featuring a dozen essays and over a hundred images, illuminates the significance of light in the Middle Ages. From scientific studies on optics to the ways sunlight filled churches, medieval society harnessed light in stunning and inventive ways.
New Medieval Books: Zoomorphic Incense Burners of Medieval Khurasan
In the medieval world, incense burners were a popular item, often crafted with great skill. This book explores how artisans in Central Asia shaped these metal burners into forms like lions, horses, and other animals, creating a unique and thriving industry.
Describe the jaw of a crocodile’: Leonardo da Vinci’s Animal Anatomies
Leonardo also studied and dissected animals at many points of his career. His subjects included horses, bears, monkeys, frogs, dogs and oxen – as surrogates for human material, as independent subjects of study, and on occasion to compare explicitly human and animal anatomy.
Animating Albrecht Dürer’s Cloaks
Analyzes the artwork of Albrecht Dürer to uncover insights into clothing styles, particularly focusing on coats and cloaks, and what they reveal about fashion and societal influences of his time.
Demons, Ghosts, and Goblins in Chinese Art at the Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) presents Demons, Ghosts, and Goblins in Chinese Art, an exhibition that explores supernatural beings in Chinese culture through paintings and sculptures. Running until January 20, 2025, the display highlights creatures that cause havoc or serve as protectors against evil forces.
Ashmolean Museum aims to purchase Fra Angelico masterpiece
The Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford is urgently raising funds to purchase a painting of the Crucifixion by Renaissance master Fra Angelico, created in the 1420s. The museum has until 29 October to raise £4,481,000 to buy the painting, otherwise it will be sold to a private owner outside the United Kingdom.
The Strange Medieval Sculptures of Nidaros Cathedral
By Nancy Bazilchuk Noblemen and women, in fancy clothing and pearls – but with dragon wings and tails. A laughing man with a…
Saint Catherine’s Monastery Offers Certified Replicas of Iconic Byzantine Art
For the first time in its 1,500-year history, Saint Catherine’s Monastery is offering certified replicas of its most famous Byzantine icons. These replicas, available in actual size and true-to-life color, allow people worldwide to own a piece of this sacred art.
500-year-old artwork, found in rubbish dump, sells for £26,500
A 500-year-old engraving by a colossus of late medieval art—found at a rubbish dump by an 11-year-old boy—has been sold at auction this…
Madonna of the Pantheon Restoration Unveiled
The iconic Madonna of the Pantheon has been meticulously restored after a eight-month project. The revered medieval icon was unveiled last month.
New Medieval Books: Holbein at the Tudor Court
A look at the artist Hans Holbein and the dozens of portraits he created while at the court of King Henry VIII of England. Many of his drawings are explained in depth, revealing Holbein’s technique and style.
14th-century altarpiece ‘Madonna of the Snow’ restored
The Madonna of the Snow altarpiece, painted by Jacopo di Cione in the 14th century, has been restored and returned to the church of SS. Apostoli e Biagio in Florence.
Amazing Detail: The Gothic Boxwood Miniatures
When you look at these objects, which were made 500 years ago, you cannot help but ask: How could anyone create this?
Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens begins at the National Portrait Gallery
Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens opens today at the National Portrait Gallery in London. This exhibition reunites items last seen together when owned by the queens themselves, including never-before-displayed artifacts and a 16th-century portrait once thought lost.
Stunning Restoration Reveals Original Glory of Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s Medieval Crucifix
After three years of meticulous work, a medieval painted Crucifix by Ambrogio Lorenzetti has been restored, unveiling its original splendour as it appeared in the 14th century.
Colour in the Middle Ages
Here are seven vivid facts about colour in the Middle Ages
A 9th-century church room has been recreated in the Viking town of Ribe
You can now see what a medieval church looked like during the 9th century. Ribe VikingeCenter in Denmark has unveiled the interior of its Ansgar Church with 50 murals.
New Medieval Books: Islam in Europe
A catalogue that showcased the exhibition ‘Islam in Europe’ held at the Sam Fogg gallery in London in 2023. It details over 60 items that were part of the exhibition ranging from ceramics to carpets.
New Medieval Books: The Wars of the Roses: The Medieval Art of Graham Turner
An overview of the civil war in 15th-century England, this book showcases the artwork of Graham Turner, a leading modern-day artist who focuses on recreating historical scenes.
The Art of Medieval Anatomy with Taylor McCall
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Taylor McCall about what medieval people knew about internal medicine, where they learned it, and how they illustrated it.
Unveiling Fake Medieval Art through Science
In 1962, the Taft Museum of Art received an artwork as part of a donation – a beautiful painting depicting the crucifixion of Jesus. For the next sixty years it was believed to have been the work of an Italian Renaissance master. In reality, it was a fake.