Art · Books · Museums · Mores · Paris · People

Raphael's portrait of Baldassare Castiglione from the Mazarin collection in the Louvre

Portrait of the Italian Renaissance writer and diplomat Baldassare Castiglione (1478–1529), known as the author of The Book of the Courtier, which describes the court of Urbino in the form of a manual of etiquette. Castiglione gives particular attention to moderation and courtesy, regarding them as proof of civilisation.

NB! · Architecture · Faith · Art · Society

In São Paulo, Construction Has Begun on a 70-Metre Statue of Saint Michael the Archangel, Meant to Stand Twice as Tall as Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and to Become the Tallest Catholic Statue in the World

Archive · Art · Books · Monarchies

The Black Books of Hours of the Late Fifteenth Century: the Pride of the Masters of Bruges

The Black Books of Hours of the late fifteenth century are the pride of the masters of Bruges. The principal patron of these masterpieces was the Burgundian court. Only a handful of books executed in this technique have survived to our day. To obtain the black pages, the parchment was

NB! · Art

Madonna with the Sleeping Infant, Hans Baldung, 1515

NB! · Art

Cushions

Cushions. Albrecht Dürer

Archive · Art · Heritage

On 24 August a painting in the style of Rembrandt went under the hammer at Thomaston Place

On 24 August a painting in the style of Rembrandt was offered at the Thomaston Place auction. From an opening bid of a mere 10 thousand dollars, bidding on the lot closed at 1.4 million. Kaja Veilleux, founder of Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, admitted that the painting had been

Art · Humour

Vulcan Forging Arrows for Cupid

Vulcan Forging Arrows for Cupid. Alessandro Tiarini, 1620s–1630s. Wicked little Cupid wants to be certain that every one of his arrows is lethally sharp. Careful!

NB! · Art · Museums · Observations · Paris

Is there a better way to celebrate the centenary of Surrealism than an epoch-making exhibition at the Pompidou?

Art · Museums · Observations · Paris

Surrealism exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris shows the contribution of women artists

The "Surrealism" exhibition at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris is simply magnificent. The presentation of Surrealism is built around the manuscript of André Breton's "Manifesto of Surrealism", displayed in a round glass case. The exhibition gives a comprehensive account of the diversity of

NB! · Art · Museums · Paris

A Landmark Exhibition Devoted to Surrealism Is Under Way at the Centre Pompidou

A cream rotary telephone with a white lobster lying where the handset should be, and a braided cord.

NB! · Art · People · Humour

Salvador Dalí's Lobster Telephone alongside other kinds of telephone

Pay phone, phone with answering machine, mobile phone, oh yes, lobster phone. You are calling Salvador Dalí

Faith · Art

Fra Beato Angelico depicts the Virgin Mary as patroness of the Benedictine order

The Virgin Mary as patroness of the Benedictine Order. The Mother of God covers the servants of the order with her mantle. The sign of salvation is the letter S from Salve, formed by a red fish and blue fish devouring smaller fry. The illustration is by Fra Beato Angelico,