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.
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.
Clutter: Quick Bite
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.
