The Art of Botticelli: The Face That Launched A Thousand Prints
The visage of a ravishing, young woman appears again and again in the art of Botticelli. It is a face that is almost as familiar to art lovers as that of…
Explore the Italian Renaissance.
Discover the paintings, sculpture, and ideas of the Renaissance through the lives of its artists and the world around them.
The faces behind the masterpieces
Artists, patrons, and the people they painted. Explore the stories behind some of the Renaissance’s most familiar works.
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Stolen and Looted Art of the Nazis Now Databased for Researchers
There is a new online catalog/database available of stolen and looted art works and other items of value confiscated from 1938 to 1945 by the Nazis in Austria. Survivors and families…
Stolen Art Recovered: The Saltcellar of Francis I
VIENNA, Austria Spectacular news for art lovers everywhere is the recovery of the 16th century masterpiece, The Saltcellar (Saliera) of Francis I, a magnificent work of gold and enamel of 1540-43…
Stolen Art in Manhattan | Kingsland Art Hoard
NEW YORK – Following the death of a man named William Kingsland of New York City in 2006, New York Public Administrator Ethel Griffin was left with a dilemma – what…
Sacred and Profane Love, Stylistic Differences Between Titian and Giorgione
In this allegorical painting of Sacred and Profane Love, the Italian Renaissance artist Titian clearly separates himself stylistically from his recently deceased friend Giorgione. Sacred and Profane Love was painted to…
Renaissance Rivals Raphael and Michelangelo
Italian Renaissance giants Michelangelo Buonarroti and Raphael Sanzio were unspoken rivals. Scholars continue to debate the subject today of the Raphael vs Michelangelo rivalry. The irascible Michelangelo, forced by Pope Julius…
Renaissance Courts
Italian Renaissance princely courts were expected to be opulent, therefore, there were no the sumptuary restrictions to follow. Wealthy aristocrats like Cosimo de’ Medici were not allowed to openly display their…
Raphael Portrait of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Renaissance Prince
On July 5th 2007 a unique portrait of Italian Renaissance prince Lorenzo de’ Medici II, Duke of Urbino, by Raphael Sanzio found its way to Christie’s auction block, something so rare…
Raphael’s Transfiguration of Christ
Raphael’s Transfiguration of Christ was commissioned by Cardinal Giulio de’ Medici (later Pope Clement VII) as one of two paintings for the Cathedral of S. Giusto of Narbonne, the city becoming…
Raphael’s Madonna of the Chair
Raphael’s Madonna della Seggiola (Sedia), also known as Madonna of the Chair, is one of Raphael’s most intimate Madonna paintings. The 1514 image of Italian Renaissance master Raphael’s Madonna is bathed…
