A little taste of history, one morsel at a time.
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.
Winter is dishing out a chilly mess, but here at Museum Quick Bites we’re serving up a hot, tasty brew.
Grab your scarf and mittens because today on Museum Quick Bites we’re going for a stroll in the winter sun. Lucien Pissarro’s, La Rue Saint-Vincent, Soleil d’Hiver (St. Vincent Street, Winter Sun; 1890) captures a peaceful scene along a quiet street.
Today on Museum Quick Bites we’re serving up a slice of Caged Pie (1962) by Wayne Thiebaud. On display at the San Diego Museum of Art, this sweet piece is a still life with a modern twist.
Today on Museum Quick Bites we’re taking a solemn step forward with Francisco de Zurbarán’s, Saint Francis of Assisi in His Tomb (c1630-1634). Cast in shadow, this haunting piece features a hooded Saint Francis holding an upturned skull. Barefoot he strides toward us, as if to step off the canvas.
Halloween is on the horizon so today on Museum Quick Bites we’re breaking out the face paint. Crafted from hand blown glass, this mint-green confection once held kohl, an ancient eyeliner. Both pretty and practical, this delicate cosmetic container has a whimsical flair.
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.
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.
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.
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.
