Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa Portrait
The Mona Lisa portrait by Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci was probably begun in 1503 and completed in 1506. She is identified by Giorgio Vasari, art historian and contemporary of…
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The faces behind the masterpieces
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Da Vinci’s Madonna and Child Painting with St. Anne
Italian Renaissance painter, Leonardo da Vinci, explored the theme of Madonna and Child painting several times throughout his career. Like the earlier Burlington House Cartoon of ca. 1500, this Madonna and…
Da Vinci’s Last Supper Painting
Da Vinci’s Last Supper painting of 1498 is not a traditional true fresco (buon fresco) painted on wet plaster, rather it is painted on dry plaster with tempera in the fresco…
Correggio, Renaissance Master of Illusionism
Correggio, the High Renaissance painter whose real name was Antonio Allegri, was an Italian Renaissance artist about whom little is known. Renaissance historian Giorgio Vasari claimed that Correggio never went to…
Claude Monet Painting Damaged By Vandals
PARIS, 10/08/2007 – A famous Claude Monet painting was damaged by vandals on Sunday, October 6, in Paris’ Orsay Museum. The group was caught on suveillance camera and exited when an…
Celtic Medieval Manuscript Found in Peat Bog
A 1,200 year old Celtic medieval manuscript was found on Thursday, July 20, 2006 in a peat bog in Ireland, and scholars are excited to see what it may reveal. This…
Bargello Museum To Give David by Donatello A Facelift
FLORENCE – June, 2007 – Curators of the Bargello Museum in Florence have been concerned about the deterioration of the Italian Renaissance sculpture of David by Donatello. Therefore, they are going…
Baldasar Castiglione Rides Again!
With the arrival of one of Raphael’s most beloved portraits comes a special treat. Italian Renaissance writer and courtier Baldasar Castiglione will serve as museum tour guide in a 3d animated…
Aztec Pyramid Ruins Found in Bad Neighborhood
Mexico City – In the news on August 2, 2007, Aztec pyramid ruins have resurfaced in a poor district of Mexico City after more than 500 years underground. Razed by Hernan…
Aztec People Used Altars Like This for Human Sacrifice
MEXICO CITY – 10/04/2006 – The Aztec people would have used an altar like this one found last weekend in downtown Mexico City for human sacrifice. This altar and an 11…