Peter Paul Rubens – Was the Old Master a Spy?
The Consequences of War, (or sometimes The Horrors of War) is an impressive painting by Peter Paul Rubens. The work was painted in response to the Thirty Years’ War and is heavily allegorical. Using mythological iconography to convey an eloquent warning, Rubens gives us a painting of disturbing beauty. The message of ‘The Consequences of […]
Anthony Van Dyck – The Triumphal Entry
Welcome to the 2nd Video in the Lent Devotional. If you have tried to purchase the devotional series and have run into technical difficulties, I apologize. We’ve been working round the clock to get the website changes operational. Hopes are everything is squared away. If you still need to purchase the Devotional you can follow […]
Lent – Penitence and Preparation
We are entering the season of Lent this Wednesday, March 6th. Although many Christian traditions no longer observe Lent, I’ve found preparing for the celebration of Easter deepens the experience. Combining my research in art with Lent I’ve been working to create a Visual Lent Devotional. I’d like to invite you to join me on […]
Frames and Pedestals, They Matter!
Our first impression of a piece of art is greatly influenced by how the work is displayed and by what surrounds it. Making the effort to consciously take note of these elements can increase our ability to read a work correctly. A closer look at a few sculptures will illustrate just what I mean. Before […]
Botticelli’s Venus and Mars
Happy Late Valentine’s Day! Botticelli’s portrayal of Venus and Mars is both beautiful and humorous. Mischievous satyrs, clear bright colors, hidden symbols, and missing legs all deserve a closer look so let’s get started. Botticelli’s paintings of mythological stories are among his most famous. This work is telling the story of the illicit love affair […]
Vision After the Sermon
This is Paul Gauguin’s painting called Vision After the Sermon. Gauguin was a post-impressionist French painter who painted this work in 1888. Heavily influenced by Japanese print making and primitive art, Gauguin felt European art lacked the substance and symbolism found in primitive cultures. He often spoke of himself as a ‘savage’ and claimed that […]