our top art tweets of the month
The Journal also has a Twitter account @artinsociety, where it has over 10,000 followers. Each month, we post here some of our most popular tweets, slightly edited, from the previous month. Here is the latest selection.
The hidden face of formality
Compare the intimacy and liveliness of Holbein’s chalk sketch of Lady Mary Guilford with the unsmiling formality of his public portrait of her, posing piously with rosary and Book of Hours (1527)
The hidden face of formality
Compare the intimacy and liveliness of Holbein’s chalk sketch of Lady Mary Guilford with the unsmiling formality of his public portrait of her, posing piously with rosary and Book of Hours (1527)
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The first known wheel
The world’s oldest known wheel, 5,000+ years old, found with axle in boggy soil of Slovenia’s Ljubjana Marshes. Its craftmanship suggests that wheels had been invented much before this. Made of oak & ash, w/ radius of 70cm, probably used on ox cart. Below it, a reconstruction
The world’s oldest known wheel, 5,000+ years old, found with axle in boggy soil of Slovenia’s Ljubjana Marshes. Its craftmanship suggests that wheels had been invented much before this. Made of oak & ash, w/ radius of 70cm, probably used on ox cart. Below it, a reconstruction
With the world on his shoulders
15C sculptor Adam Kraft’s strikingly naturalistic depiction of himself supporting the intricate gothic tabernacle he created at St Lorenz, Nuremberg (1490s)
15C sculptor Adam Kraft’s strikingly naturalistic depiction of himself supporting the intricate gothic tabernacle he created at St Lorenz, Nuremberg (1490s)
An embellishment on evolution
Charles Darwin’s draft manuscript of ‘On the Origin of Species’ later proved to be an invaluable source of drawing paper for his children, George, Francis and Horace. Here are some of their creative embellishments.
Charles Darwin’s draft manuscript of ‘On the Origin of Species’ later proved to be an invaluable source of drawing paper for his children, George, Francis and Horace. Here are some of their creative embellishments.
Bleeding hearts
From the upper arches of St John’s Cathedral of 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands ~ this decorative carving reflects the medieval belief that when food got scarce, mother pelicans would intentionally pierce their own breasts with their beaks & use the blood to feed their chicks.
From the upper arches of St John’s Cathedral of 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands ~ this decorative carving reflects the medieval belief that when food got scarce, mother pelicans would intentionally pierce their own breasts with their beaks & use the blood to feed their chicks.
The persistent activist
Anglo-Irish social activist. Charlotte Despard addresses a women’s suffrage meeting at Trafalgar Square in 1910 and, 23 years later, at an anti-fascist rally in the same spot (and in the same pose). She was 89 at the time.
Anglo-Irish social activist. Charlotte Despard addresses a women’s suffrage meeting at Trafalgar Square in 1910 and, 23 years later, at an anti-fascist rally in the same spot (and in the same pose). She was 89 at the time.
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World's oldest love poem
World’s oldest love poem, written in cuneiform on this small clay tablet about 2030 BC, on ritual marriage between priestess & Sumerian King Shu-Sin. It was only identified and translated in 1951. The rather passionate text is at R (Nippur, Istanbul Museum of the Ancient Orient)
World’s oldest love poem, written in cuneiform on this small clay tablet about 2030 BC, on ritual marriage between priestess & Sumerian King Shu-Sin. It was only identified and translated in 1951. The rather passionate text is at R (Nippur, Istanbul Museum of the Ancient Orient)
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Writer's block in Pompeii
Proof that writer’s block is nothing new ~ this Pompeiian woman with gold-threaded hair engages us as she muses over her wax tablet. She’d soon have plenty to write about, so let’s hope she survived (Pompeii, 55-79AD, unearthed 1760, National Archaeological Museum of Naples).
Proof that writer’s block is nothing new ~ this Pompeiian woman with gold-threaded hair engages us as she muses over her wax tablet. She’d soon have plenty to write about, so let’s hope she survived (Pompeii, 55-79AD, unearthed 1760, National Archaeological Museum of Naples).
Violets for Napoleon
On his exile to Elba, Napoleon vowed he’d return to Paris the next year, like his favourite flower, the violet, did each spring. Here, Canu celebrates that return in March 1815 by hiding silhouettes of Napoleon, his son & 2nd wife Marie Louise in bunch of violets (Clues at R).
On his exile to Elba, Napoleon vowed he’d return to Paris the next year, like his favourite flower, the violet, did each spring. Here, Canu celebrates that return in March 1815 by hiding silhouettes of Napoleon, his son & 2nd wife Marie Louise in bunch of violets (Clues at R).
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Fireflies in moonlit bamboo forest
Just admiring this striking photograph of fireflies in a moonlit bamboo forest, at the start of the Japanese rainy season (Kei Nomiyama, “Enchanted Bamboo Forest”, 2016 Sony World Photography Awards.
Just admiring this striking photograph of fireflies in a moonlit bamboo forest, at the start of the Japanese rainy season (Kei Nomiyama, “Enchanted Bamboo Forest”, 2016 Sony World Photography Awards.
Striking stone carvings include a ring-in
These striking carved figures at St John’s Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands date back to 14C but, hey, that angel with a mobile phone is a frolic by a recent restorer there
These striking carved figures at St John’s Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands date back to 14C but, hey, that angel with a mobile phone is a frolic by a recent restorer there
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17/18C Netherlands artist Rachel Ruysch
Outstanding 17/18C Netherlands artist Rachel Ruysch won fame for her paintings of flowers, fruits & bugs set against dark backgrounds. Found favour with the Medicis ■ won commissions rivalling Rembrandt’s ■ painted for 68 years ■ and had 10 children
Outstanding 17/18C Netherlands artist Rachel Ruysch won fame for her paintings of flowers, fruits & bugs set against dark backgrounds. Found favour with the Medicis ■ won commissions rivalling Rembrandt’s ■ painted for 68 years ■ and had 10 children
Prescience of early satirical journals
Eerie prescience ~ 1881 US satirical magazine Puck foreshadows introduction of emoticons by 100 years ■ 1906 Punch cartoon predicts couple will prefer to play with their “wireless” devices rather than talk to each other
Eerie prescience ~ 1881 US satirical magazine Puck foreshadows introduction of emoticons by 100 years ■ 1906 Punch cartoon predicts couple will prefer to play with their “wireless” devices rather than talk to each other
17C Venetian artist Chiara Varotari
Almost-forgotten 17C Venetian artist Chiara Varotari was an early advocate for women’s rights, and started her own professional art school. Her ìntense self-portrait here, at L, is a striking contrast to her more formal work
Almost-forgotten 17C Venetian artist Chiara Varotari was an early advocate for women’s rights, and started her own professional art school. Her ìntense self-portrait here, at L, is a striking contrast to her more formal work
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