A little taste of history one morsel at a time
Dear Readers -- My daughter and I took a stab at recreating Artemisia Gentileschi's Judith and Her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes (c1623-1625--see photo comparison below) as part of the Detroit Institute of Arts #RecreateDIA challenge. It was a lot of fun, especially adding the COVID-19 twist 😉 Hope you enjoy! ~cjverb
Mother’s Day is on the horizon and today on Museum Quick Bites we’re celebrating moms with a look at George de Forest Brush’s Mother and Child (c1897-1900). With rosy cheeks and wispy curls framing their faces, this adorable pair is timeless.
Today on Museum Quick Bites we’re diving headfirst into a whimsical wave of color. Series I-No. 3 (1918) by Georgia O'Keeffe features a lush, multi-colored swirl that brings to mind candy canes and lollipops. Its Willy Wonka vibe conjures up a world of pure imagination.
Today on Museum Quick Bites we’re sinking our teeth into some comfort food with a dash of Dutch flavor. Pieter Claesz’s Still Life with a Pie, Sweetmeats, and Wine Glasses (c1625) beckons us to grab a plate and indulge. Lemons, olives, nuts, a crusty loaf of bread, and a meat pie—its citrusy filling tumbling out—are so exquisitely realistic, it looks as if you could reach in and gobble them up.
Dear Readers – Today on Museum Quick Bites we’re taking comfort in music with an angelic twist. Musical Angel (1521) by Rosso Fiorentino (aka Giovanni Battista di Jacopo; 1494-1540) features a cherub dreamily plucking a lute. From his rosy fingertips to his fiery red curls this sleepy-eyed angel appears lulled by the music, and in turn, the painting lulls us.
Dear Readers –Today on Museum Quick Bites, we’re continuing to seek out comfort, this time through dance. Bacchante with Infant Faun (1894) by Frederick W. MacMonnies (1863-1937) features a young woman kicking up her heels in a lively dance. She is a bacchante, a follower of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, symbolized by the grapes clutched in her right hand. A baby faun, a mythical creature that is half human and half goat, is cradled in her left arm. The infant stares hungrily at the grapes, unfazed by the bacchante’s exuberance. Together, the two are a blend of joy and yearning.
Dear Readers – I hope you are well and adjusting to our new version of normal. This week’s Museum Quick Bite is all about getting outside. In this new phase of social distancing and sheltering in place, now more than ever we need a dose of outside time whether that means going for a walk, sipping cocktails on the patio, or feasting our eyes on some gorgeous outdoor art, like Norwegian painter, Thomas Fearnley’s (1802-1842) Pergola with Oranges (c1834)…
Dear Readers – COVID-19 has us living in a surreal and difficult time. Despite my best efforts to proceed in this new normal of sheltering in place and social distancing, I’m having a hard time concentrating. So I’m going to switch things up. Instead of my usual format, I’m going to offer Museum Quick Bites. These weekly snippets will focus on a single piece of art and artist. Our theme for the next several weeks will be scenes of comfort, something I think we all need right now. Stay safe. – CJ Verb
Dear Readers – COVID-19 has put the kibosh on travel among many, many other things so today I’m diving into the archives. As we do our part to practice social distancing and flatten the curve, please enjoy this reboot of Cracklin' Rosé, originally posted on February 1, 2019. Note, readers in North America had just endured a frigid polar vortex.
Today on Museum Bites we’re kicking off the spring season with a celebration of bunnies. Whether he’s outwitting Elmer Fudd, going after the throats of silly medieval knights, or bringing us baskets of sweets, these long-eared hoppers are a furry delight. Join me for a brief look at bunnies who dance, bring luck, serve up soup, and so much more. We begin on the African savanna…
Museum Bites 