No.51 Harbaville Triptych, 10th century, Constantinople (Istanbul). This is one of the most richly detailed ivories to come from a workshop in Constantinople. Just look at the detail of Christ’s throne as an example. It was made in the 10… Read More ›
Pompeii and Herculaneum are Roman cities from late antiquity that don’t need any introduction. We have all heard the story how they were obliterated during the catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius on 24th August 79 CE. I wrote… Read More ›
Some of the most popular subjects for mosaics in ancient Greece and Rome were mythological scenes, daily life, the four seasons and the sea, the circus and gladiatorial games. But one of the more curious mosaics that I find amusing… Read More ›
Inspiration often comes from my daily grind. I’ve said it many times before and today is no different. I bought a bottle of spring water and imagine my surprise, as I see a naked goddess obscuring her face, lying across… Read More ›
Last week, I made my way to the National Gallery of Victoria, in Melbourne, to experience possibly a once in a lifetime exhibitions, of legendary French artist Edgar Degas works. Going into the exhibition I had expected to see at… Read More ›
A good number of Byzantine craftsmen, painters and artists are unknown or anonymous. Yet, they have left us with a rich legacy of decorative secular and religious art throughout the eastern Roman provinces. They were not only influential in their… Read More ›
In this nativity scene by Giotto, Jesus is placed in a manger, underneath a roofed structure set into a rocky outcrop. The Christian gospels of Luke and Matthew have long described how Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem… Read More ›
The peacock has a long history of being worshipped as a pagan deity or used as a symbol by royalty and the wealthy. Its use in the art of medieval Europe was also largely symbolic and generally related to Christianity…. Read More ›
Is Archangel Michael, the ‘Angel of Mons’, who saved the British? In the sweltering heat of August 1914, the British arrived at the Battle of Mons to check the advance of the German army. At the end of the first… Read More ›
Did the real Lady Godiva actually ride through Coventry naked is a question that we have all been asking for centuries. If it is true, it may be the most famous public act of nudity in recorded history. I have… Read More ›
