Today on Museum Quick Bites we’re working in a little face time with an ancient beer mug. Handcrafted from gold by the Chimú, this quirky cup (c1475-1525 CE) was used during rituals to drink fermented corn beer.
Face Time: Quick Bite
Moon Shadow: Quick Bite
We’re chasing shadows today on Museum Quick Bites…moon shadows. Moonlit Landscape with a Windmill (c1650s) by Dutch painter, Aert van der Neer is a nocturnal delight. Cast against a turbulent sky, puffy pink and gray clouds churn above, while the moon plays hide and seek behind a lone windmill.
Night: Quick Bite
Daylight is waning here at Museum Quick Bites so today we’re embracing the darkness and taking a closer look at Raffaelle Monti’s, Night (1862). On display at the Detroit Institute of Arts, this lovely sculpture features a veiled, windswept woman floating above a sleeping baby.
It’s a Crock! Reboot
Today on Museum Bites we’re sampling crockery with a twist. These deceptively simple mugs and jugs were crafted for pure trickery and played a starring role in the 18th-century’s version of beer pong. Join me for a look at three of these clever devices…
Sacrifice: Quick Bite
Today on Museum Quick Bites we’re taking a closer look at a Biblical bargain. Jephthah’s Daughter (1874) by Chauncey Bradley Ives is a stunning sculpture depicting a young woman’s grief upon learning she will be sacrificed (spoiler alert!)…by her father. With head downcast, a tambourine grasped loosely in one hand, she contemplates her tragic fate.
Dragons at the Gate: Quick Bite
Happy Friday! Today on Museum Quick Bites we’re taking a walk on the wild side with a divine dragon. Handcrafted from glazed terracotta and molded mud-brick, this Mushhushshu-Dragon (c604-562 BCE) once graced one of the eight gates surrounding the ancient city of Babylon.
Belling’s Bot: Quick Bite
Today on Museum Quick Bites we’re taking a closer look at Rudolf Belling’s Sculpture 23 (1923). Crafted from brass, this radiant, robotic head is a whimsical delight. From its sleek skull to its thick, slightly parted lips, Belling has forged a brassy jumble of shapes and parts to create a brilliant work of art.
Theodora
Today on Museum Quick Bites we’re stepping into the Basilica di San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy to learn more about Byzantine Empress Theodora (c497-548). Inside these 6th century walls, her portrait, crafted from colorful glass and gold-infused tiles, offers clues about this powerful, multi-faceted woman. From devout Christian to demonic consort, Theodora’s portrayal in art, literature, and even the stage is much like her empire, complex.
Byzantine Bling: Quick Bite
Today on Museum Quick Bites we’re winding back the clock to the 6th century and taking a closer look at Byzantine bling.
Bejeweled: Quick Bite
We’re getting our glam on today at Museum Quick Bites with a stunning Bukharan headdress crafted in the mid to late 1800s. Made of gilt silver and decorated with rubies, mardjon and colored glass, this ceremonial headdress has an exotic vibe.
