Great artists converse with our hearts without uttering a word. They animate the greatest and most tragic moments in life, from battlefields that appear gut-wrenchingly real to divine jubilations that make our souls sing. But seldom do we celebrate the way these artists lived in the world: how they overcame challenges, how they stayed true…
Leading by Example: How Painter Sister Plautilla Nelli Persevered Against the Odds
The Meek and Selfless Nobleman: ‘Bertuccio’s Bride’
Sometimes, we hold on tightly to the things in our lives. To avoid suffering and hardship, we might think it’s wise to acquire and hoard as much wealth as possible. But in reality, by focusing on what we lack, or fear we lack, we might cause ourselves many sleepless nights. I recently came across a…
The Unacknowledged Genius: The 17th-Century French Artist Charles Le Brun
The question pulls at the mind as tight as a stretched canvas: Given his legacy as an exceptional painter, art theorist, and founding member of the French Royal Academy, why is Charles Le Brun (1619–1690) not given attention on par with Nicolas Poussin or Peter Paul Rubens? Anyone in love with the rich paintings of Baroque art…
French Courtly Finesse in New York: 18th-Century Luxury Books
In 1966, Vogue photographer Cecil Beaton captured renowned art collector and philanthropist Jayne Wrightsman’s portrait. Just a year earlier, in 1965, Wrightsman had been added to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. Fittingly, in the photograph, Wrightsman is pictured elegantly poised on a settee in her Versailles-esque New York apartment. It was around…
A US First: Flemish Master Jan van Eyck’s Only Surviving Drawing Is in New York
Anyone who has seen a Jan van Eyck painting up close will be in no doubt of his brilliance at depicting every inch of detail in luminous oils. He perfected the medium. But few people would have had the opportunity to see van Eyck’s draftsmanship in person. Only one van Eyck drawing survives: “Portrait of…
Whitehall: Where Muses of Literature and the Arts Reside
In 1883, Henry Morrison Flagler was charmed with his visit to Florida, and he imagined others would also find delight there. With that thought, five years later, he began construction of the first of many hotels in the state. To provide a path for others to enjoy the gifts of Florida, Flagler also established the…
A Moral Reminder: Thomas Couture’s ‘Romans of the Decadence’
Over the past 200 years, Western civilization has increased its wealth dramatically, but has its morality been able to keep up with its material progress? Throughout history, several empires that were very prosperous eventually fell. The Roman Empire, one of the greatest civilizations known, eventually collapsed. The 19th-century French artist Thomas Couture might give us…
Reflecting on Life’s Hopes and Dreams Through Renaissance Portraits
Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land; —Christina Rossetti, poet, from “Remember” “Remember Me,” a fascinating exhibition at Amsterdam’s Rijks Museum explores how over 100 Renaissance men and women were memorialized in paint. Through the portraits, we can see what our Renaissance cousins once held dear: their hopes,…
Courageous Hearts, Soaring Toward Eternity
Autumn in America is a fine time to contemplate change and the unchanging. The moody month of October ushers in colorful leaves, clear skies, and crisp breezes. Early evenings give way to scampering feet and wildly costumed kids in the frightful pursuit of candy! It’s almost Halloween. This time of year scary stories lure us…
The Divine Light of Truth: ‘Baruch Writing Jeremiah’s Prophecies’
Throughout history, there have been times when people recognize that everything is falling apart, and it seems like civilization is crumbling around them. People begin to organize into groups and attack those not in their circle; it becomes difficult to discern the truth when people focus on attacking those who think differently. The truth, however,…
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