logo

Eyes to behold stunning artworks in world-class museums.

Angels in Art: A Heavenly Collection from The Metropolitan Museum

5 min read
Italian, Paris or Pavia ca. 1374/75–after 1438 Verona / The Met

    This deeply affective work combines an austerity in the composition with an elegance in the description of the figures that is characteristic of painting at the cosmopolitan court in Milan under Duke Gian Galeazzo Visconti (1351 - 1402).
    Stefano da Verona was a leading exponent of this refined style, which owes much to sculpture and to French miniature painting.
    The delicately tooled gold background emulates expensive goldsmith work (the thornless roses are emblems of the Virgin Mary).

The Temptation of Saint Mary Magdalen

German, Oldenburg ca. 1595/1600–1631 Verona / The Met

    Born in northern Germany but active in Amsterdam, Rome, and Venice, Liss synthesized Rubens, Caravaggio, Bernini, and Titian, evolving a style that virtually encapsulates what we refer to today as baroque.
   Liss probably executed this painting in Venice.
   The reformed prostitute Mary Magdalen is shown rejecting the world's riches - represented by the dark-skinned, turbaned figure - in favor of an angel who bears the palm of victory
    Her back-tilted head, half-closed eyes, and exposed breasts merge with the lush paint handling in an almost shocking eroticism.
   Only around thirty works by Liss are known, of which this is one of the most important.

The Annunciation

Italian, Viadana ca. 1505–ca. 1570 Parma / The Met

    This painting is unusual for showing the annunciation of Christ's birth as taking place in the Virgin's bedroom at night, by candlelight.
    It is a precocious example of a modello - a proposal or model for a project that could be shown to the patron.
    It is related to an altarpiece Bedoli painted in the 1550s for a church in his hometown, near Parma.

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 分钟阅读
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 分钟阅读
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 分钟阅读