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Eyes to behold stunning artworks in world-class museums.

From 15th Century To 16th Century

4 min read
Netherlandish, Oudewater ca. 1455–1523 Bruges / The Met

    This painting is a Christ Blessing.
    It was adapted from Byzantine icons brought to the Low Countries in the fifteenth century.

The Marriage Feast at Cana

Netherlandish, active by 1496–died 1519 Palencia / The Met

    This was one of forty-seven panels representing the lives of Christ and the Virgin that were made for Isabella of Castile.
    It represents the marriage feast at Cana, when Christ performed his first miracle turning water into wine.
    Traditionally, the bride and groom are identified as Saint John the Evangelist and Mary Magdalen.
    Here the two quite possibly are disguised portraits of Prince Juan, and Isabella's daughter-in-law, Margaret of Austria, who married in 1497.
    Looking in from the courtyard at the left may be the portrait of a court functionary or possibly a self-portrait of the artist.

The Holy Family

Robert Lehman Collection / The Met

    This small tapestry depicting the Holy Family was probably made as an object of private devotion.
    Small hangings like this were designed in workshops that specialized in creating cartoons (large-scale drawings) based on contemporary paintings and prints.
    In this Holy Family the indoor/outdoor setting juxtaposes a divine interior with a worldly exterior.
    Mary and the Christ Child sit in a partially enclosed room while Joseph appears from a balustrade window with a distant view of a village in the distance.
    The attributes of the interior setting carry symbolic content.
    For example, the books on the shelf above the Virgin represent the Old and New Testament.
    The pomegranate to the left on the shelf symbolizes the Resurrection while the basket of sewing materials in
   the near ground alludes to the domestic aspects of life on earth

From 14th Century To 15th Century

From 14th Century To 15th Century

During the 14th and 15th centuries, artists in Europe began to break away from the traditional Gothic style. They began to experiment with new techniques and styles, resulting in a period of great creativity and innovation in the arts. Some of the most famous artworks from this period include the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, and the sculptures of Donatello. Box with Romance Scenes     This coffret illustrated with scenes from Arthurian and other courtly literature of the M
-5 min read
From 1819 To 1826

From 1819 To 1826

The 19th century was a time of great change in the world of art. Artists began to experiment with new styles and media, and the art world was forever changed as a result. Some of the most famous artists of the time include Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Pablo Picasso. The Falls of Niagara     The painting is of Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.     The painting is based on a vignette of the falls from a map of North America published by Henry S. Tanner in 1822. Heroic Landscape w
-4 min read
From 1787 To 1800

From 1787 To 1800

The 18th century was a time of great change in the world of art. New styles and genres emerged, and artists began to experiment with new techniques and materials. The art of the 18th century reflected the changing times, and the growing interest in the natural world and the human form. Elizabeth Farren (born about 1759, died 1829), Later Countess of Derby     The Irish actress Elizabeth Farren made her London debut in 1777 and soon became one of the most popular comic performers of the day.  
-5 min read