A little taste of history, one morsel at a time.
Today on Museum Quick Bites we’re sifting through the clutter portrayed in Samuel van Hoogstraten’s Trompe l’Oeil Still Life (c1655). On display at the San Diego Museum of Art, this hyper-realistic painting is a delightful glimpse into 17th century office supplies.
Today on Museum Quick Bites we’re sifting through the clutter portrayed in Samuel van Hoogstraten’s Trompe l’Oeil Still Life (c1655). On display at the San Diego Museum of Art, this hyper-realistic painting is a delightful glimpse into 17th century office supplies.
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.
Happy Friday! Today on Museum Bites we’re tiptoeing through the tulips. From their humble beginnings in the foothills of Central Asia to the fertile fields of the Dutch countryside, the tulip has a rich and illustrious history. This colorful bloom has traveled the world, influencing ancient Turkish headgear, sparking a financial crisis, and inspiring art and song. We begin with the Ottoman Empire…
Today on Museum Bites we’re celebrating the good old reliable and versatile chair. Not only can they be folded, stacked, rocked, reclined and spun, chairs can serve as a handy step stool, makeshift lock, or sought-after commodity in a popular children’s game.
All this excitement culminates on the eve of December 5th when children young and old await Sinterklaas’s loud banging on the front door.
All this excitement culminates on the eve of December 5th when children young and old await Sinterklaas’s loud banging on the front door. Is that a switch he’s using to beat on the door? Are the Zwarte Pieten preparing to drag a bratty little brother off to Spain?
I believe there are two types of people in this world, those who roam through cemeteries, and those who don’t. I fall into the first camp. Earlier this week I traveled to the Land of Cheese(heads) to visit family and reconnect with my Dutch roots. My mother and I spent the good part of a... Continue Reading →
Museum Bites 