Fresco in a stucco frame: a winged angel points at an elderly woman in a lace ruff beside a wooden wall.

Faith · Art · Heritage

The Book of Genesis on Sarah bearing a son to be named Isaac

Sarah and the Angel, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1727-1728, fresco, Patriarchal Palace, Udine. And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac. Genesis, Chapter 17, verse 19

Art · People

The Belgian artist Isidore Verheyden at work on a portrait of the Belgian artist Anna Boch

And Anna Boch in the portrait by Isidore Verheyden

Four men with open mouths and a cat in a lace collar sing from a sheet of music against a dark background.

Art · Mores · Humour

The painting “The Singing Company” by Niccolò Frangipane

When everyone at the party has the same beautician, except the cat. A Singing Company, Niccolò Frangipane

Architecture · Art · Heritage · Paris

The Horses of Saint Mark: from Constantinople to Venice and Paris

The Horses of Saint Mark, or the Triumphal Quadriga, are one of the emblematic monuments of Venice. The team of four steeds has adorned the façade of the Basilica of Saint Mark for almost eight centuries. At the very start of the plundering of Italy, in 1797, Napoleon carried the

Art · London · Museums

Symbolism in Hogarth’s “The Graham Children” of 1742 and the Death of Baby Thomas

William Hogarth's 1742 painting "The Graham Children" is famous for its sad symbolism. The youngest child, little Thomas, died before work on the picture was finished. There is a version according to which the artist conceived the canvas as a memorial to the dead child. His

Art · Mores

Sorolla’s 1895 painting “Mother” and the medical advice of the time on infant sleep

The Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla marked the birth of his daughter in 1895 with the painting "Mother", in a light palette, where against white walls, coverlets and pillows only the heads of his wife Clotilde and the newborn Elena stand out. The painting is considered one of Sorolla&

Geography · Art

Suvorov Crossing the Alps, Surikov, 1899

Napoleon Crossing the Great St Bernard Pass, Edmond Marie Félix de Boisléconte, 1908. Three commanders are known to have crossed the Alps: Hannibal, Napoleon and Suvorov. Napoleon made the crossing twice: in 1796 and in 1800. Suvorov did so in 1799.

In the Press · Art · Observations · Humour

Berlusconi's collection of thousands of cheap paintings has become a burden to his heirs

The Guardian carries an amusing little item on how Silvio Berlusconi's heirs were astonished to learn that a collection of some 25,000 paintings, on which he may have spent around 20 million euros, consists largely of worthless daubs. The former Prime Minister of Italy devoted several years

NB! · Art · Museums

Mesmerising Details and Carlo Crivelli's "Saint Michael", 1472

NB! · Coming Up · Art · Moscow

At the House on Khlebny (19 Khlebny Lane), the exhibition "Shadows Dance Underwater" by the artists Yakov Khomich, Soslan Sosiev and the InterLNKD collective has opened

At the House on Khlebny (19 Khlebny Lane), the exhibition "Shadows Dance Underwater" by the artists Yakov Khomich, Soslan Sosiev and the InterLNKD collective has opened. It runs until 20 December

A large multi-panel painting of a heap of assorted objects, including a motorcycle, globe, bust, clock, umbrellas and toys, on an exhibition hall wall.

NB! · Art · Observations · Society Pages

Exhibition of the art group “Rossiya” opens at the Nakovalnya gallery

An exhibition by the art group “Rossiya” has opened at the Nakovalnya Gallery. They are among my very favourite artists, Ivan and Yegor Dmitriev especially. The show is a small one, and thoroughly agreeable

NB! · Art · Monarchies · Observations · Paris · Humour