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Curator's Corner

And This Is a Portrait of Whom?

Monday, June 12, 2017 | Karl Cole

I don’t often laugh about art history (seriously!), but now and then one just can’t help it. With this group of “portraits,” I had to keep in mind that: A) the people who bough ...

Curator's Corner

The Artistic Legacy of Conquest, part 2

Tuesday, March 14, 2017 | Karl Cole

This week's look at Spanish Colonial art continues, inspired by the exhibit Highest Heaven, currently on view at the Worcester Art Museum. ...

Curator's Corner

Hierarchical Size

Tuesday, October 14, 2014 | Karl Cole

Hierarchy is the level of importance allotted to an object, or, for the sake of this posting, a person. Hierarchical size deals with the principle of design known as proportion. Proportion has to do w ...

Curator's Corner

Drawing: Ruth Henshaw Bascom

Monday, September 15, 2014 | Karl Cole

I’m showing you Ruth Henshaw Bascom’s work as a celebration of the new show in the Davis Art Gallery, Drawing: The Art of Making Marks. Drawing was not really considered a “fine ...

Curator's Corner

Happy Fourth of July! Gilbert Stuart

Monday, July 7, 2014 | Karl Cole

I’m celebrating the 4th of July by showing you one of the many portraits Gilbert Stuart did of our first president, George Washington. I hate to be an overly sappy art historian, but one of my s ...

Curator's Corner

Unsung Heroes: Dorothea Lange

Monday, June 23, 2014 | Karl Cole

There are many ways to be a hero. I by no means denigrate our men and women in the armed services, who have given their all recently in two wars (one of which should never have happened). But, there a ...

Curator's Corner

American Artist Supports American Art: Carroll Beckwith

Tuesday, June 3, 2014 | Karl Cole

I guess it doesn’t need to be said, that, in the history of art, there are many artists who just don’t get massive exposure. Although they might often be lauded in their day, their works d ...

Curator's Corner

Fantasy Christmas Present: Edward Savage

Monday, December 23, 2013 | Karl Cole

I love miniatures from early American art! I dearly want a miniature of myself hanging from my loved one’s keychain as a Christmas present! However, miniature artists are few and far betwee ...

Curator's Corner

African American History Month 2013: Samella Lewis

Monday, February 4, 2013 | Karl Cole

Once again we honor National African American History Month. I don’t think it can be argued that, despite the fact that we recognize the contemporary accomplishments of African American artists, ...

Curator's Corner

Mexican Artists in America: Jose Francisco Xavier de Salazar y Mendoza

Monday, September 24, 2012 | Karl Cole

I’d like to point out in this blog post the contribution of Mexican artists to American art since long before many parts of the country were colonized as American states. The Spanish tried to lu ...

Curator's Corner

Edgar Degas Early Self-Portrait

Tuesday, May 8, 2012 | Karl Cole

As a painter myself, I find it fascinating to watch a famous painter’s progress from early to late work. In the case of Edgar Degas (1834–1917), I’m always over the top because he is ...

Curator's Corner

A Forgotten Woman Artist: Gwen John

Monday, January 30, 2012 | Karl Cole

I always like to introduce you to artists who, I think, have been marginalized in “official” art history surveys of western (or non-western for that matter) art. Because Paris was has been ...

Curator's Corner

Not Your Typical Mummy: Roman Period

Thursday, May 12, 2011 | Karl Cole

I’m a big fan/geek when it comes to portraiture. This may stem from the fact that I can’t paint a portrait of someone without it looking like a bad cartoon, but I digress. Additionally, I& ...

Curator's Corner

A Prince of a Portrait from Ancient Egypt

Monday, October 4, 2010 | Karl Cole

Of all the portraits I’ve ever come across—and believe me, I’ve been going to museums since I was a wee one—the portraiture of ancient Egypt fascinates me the most. For one thi ...

Curator's Corner

Pictorialist Photographer: Gertrude Käsebier

Monday, March 8, 2010 | Karl Cole

One of my favorite periods in the history of photography is from the early period, when there was a debate in artists’ circles as to whether or not photography was “fine art.” Ironic ...

Curator's Corner

African American History Month 2010: Horace Pippin

Monday, February 8, 2010 | Karl Cole

To celebrate African American History Month, I’m going to feature black artists the month of February. Naturally, I’m going to start with one of my favorites, Horace Pippin. ...

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And This Is a Portrait of Whom?

The Artistic Legacy of Conquest, part 2

Hierarchical Size

Drawing: Ruth Henshaw Bascom

Happy Fourth of July! Gilbert Stuart

Unsung Heroes: Dorothea Lange

American Artist Supports American Art: Carroll Beckwith

Fantasy Christmas Present: Edward Savage

African American History Month 2013: Samella Lewis

Mexican Artists in America: Jose Francisco Xavier de Salazar y Mendoza

Edgar Degas Early Self-Portrait

A Forgotten Woman Artist: Gwen John

Not Your Typical Mummy: Roman Period

A Prince of a Portrait from Ancient Egypt

Pictorialist Photographer: Gertrude Käsebier

African American History Month 2010: Horace Pippin

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