ἕν οἶδα, ὅτι οὐδέν οἶδα
All I know is that I know nothing
Allegedly said by Socrates
So true, 30 years in Education, and I still feel like a kindergarten student, curious and inquisitive, questioning, interested, prying …
Weaving in Ancient Greece
Attributed to the Amasis Painter, active around 550–510 BCTerracotta Black-Figure Lekythos (oil flask) depicting the preparation of wool and the weaving of cloth, ca. 550–530 BC, H. 17.15 cm, the MET, NY, USAhttps://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/253348?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&high=on ...
Portrait of a Halberdier
Jacopo Carucci, called Pontormo, 1494 – 1557Portrait of a Halberdier (Francesco Guardi?), 1529–1530, Oil (or oil and tempera) on panel transferred to canvas, 95.3 × 73 cm, The J. Paul Getty Museum, CA, USAhttp://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/824/pontormo-jacopo-carucci-portrait-of-a-halberdier-francesco-guardi- ...
The Byzantine Church of Hagia Eirene
The Byzantine Church of Hagia Eirene, between the4th and 8th centuries, Istanbul, Turkeyhttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Hagia_Eirene_Constantinople_July_2007_001.jpg The church of the Holy Peace (Hagia Eirene) was built in the fourth century at the place where the old church of the bishop of Byz ...
The Samnite House in Herculanium
The decorated Atrium of the Samnite House in Herculaneum has a Gallery with Ionic Columns and Latticework Screens, 1st century AD, made of painted stucco https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Irelli-Aoyagi-De_Caro-Pappalardo_417#/media/File:Parte_alta.JPG Herculaneum was a peaceful seaside town which was stru ...
Monemvasia by Konstantinos Maleas
Konstantinos Maleas, 1879-1928Monemvasia (Houses at Monemvasia), 1920-28, oil on cardboard, 50 x 57.5 cmhttps://museum.bankofgreece.gr/topoianaforas/modern_greek_art/504_Maleas_en.html Monemvasia by Konstantinos Maleas is one of my favourite paintings…of a city rugged, wildly beautiful, and very historic according ...
Portrait Medallion of Gennadios
Portrait Medallion of Gennadios, 250–300 AD, made in Alexandria, Egypt. Gold Glass, D. 4.2 cm, the MET, NY, USAhttps://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/466645?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&high=on&ao=on&showOnly=openAccess&ft=*&offset=480&rpp=80& ...
The Labours of the Months: September
By an unknown Venetian artist…The Labours of the Months: September, about 1580, oil on canvas, 13.6 x 10.6 cm, National Gallery, Londonhttps://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/italian-venetian-the-labours-of-the-months-january#painting-group-info Another smell of autumn / sweet sweet smell / of Concord grapes / ...
End of the Season by William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase, American painter, 1849-1916End of the Season, c. 1885, Pastel on Paper, 35 x 45 cm, Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, South Hadley https://www.wga.hu/support/viewer_m/z.html The familiar rhythm of the cricket’s chirps / Create the soundtrack for each day, / Echoing Summer’s end / And that Aut ...
Maiolica Credenza
Nicola da Urbino, active by 1520–died ?1537/38Armorial Plate (tondino): The story of King Midas (This plate is part of the Isabella D’Este Credenza), ca. 1520–25, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), Diam. 27.5 cm, the MET, NY, USAhttps://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/459198?searchField=All&sortBy=Rele ...
Off the harbor by Ioannis Altamouras
Ioannis Altamouras, 1852-1878Off the harbor, 1874, oil on paper mounted on cardboard, 23.3 x 30.5 cm, Bank of Greecehttps://museum.bankofgreece.gr/topoianaforas/modern_greek_art/501_Altamouras_en.html Emily, / A ship is floating in the harbour now, / A wind is hovering o'er the mountain's brow; / There is a path on ...
The Byzantine Icon of Panagia Nicopoiou
Icon of Panagia Nikopoiou, Komnenian period (1081-1185), Wood, 58x55 cm, St. Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy https://www.pallasweb.com/deesis/nicopeia-icon-san-marco-loot-from-constantinople-1204-crusade I like how Chrysa A. Maltezou starts her article “Βενετία κι Βυζαντινή Παράδοση - Η Εικόνα της Παναγίας Νικοποιού ...
The Formidable Queen Tiye
Queen Tiye (probably), ca. 1353–1336 BC, New Kingdom, Amarna Period, Dynasty 18, Quartzite, 13.3x12.5x12.4 cm, the MET, NY, USAhttps://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/544693?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&high=on&ao=on&showOnly=openAccess&ft=*&offset=0& ...
Homer’s Summer Night
Winslow Homer, American Artist, 1836-1910Summer Night, 1890, Oil on canvas, 76.7x102 cm, Musée d'Orsay, Paris, Francehttps://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/03/winslow-homers-summer-night-examined-at-harvard-art-museums/ Harvard Art Museums' Elizabeth and John Moors Cabot Director Martha Tedeschi, discussing in ...
The Labours of the Months: August
By an unknown Venetian artist…The Labours of the Months: August, about 1580, oil on canvas, 13.6 x 10.6 cm, National Gallery, Londonhttps://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/italian-venetian-the-labours-of-the-months-january#painting-group-info The quiet August noon has come; / A slumberous silence fills the sky ...
Teaching with the Kritios Boy
Kritios Boy, 480 BC, Marble from the island of Paros, Height: 116.7 m, Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece https://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en/youth-statue-kritios-boy Teaching with the Kritios Boy is a set of student activities and worksheets inspired by an awe-inspiring work of art created by a remarkabl ...
Salvador Dali or Pavlos Samios
Salvador Dali, 1904 - 1989Figure at the Window, 1925, Oil on papier-mâché, 105 x 74,5 cm, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia https://en.opisanie-kartin.com/description-of-the-painting-by-salvador-dali-woman-at-the-window/Pavlos Samios, 1948 - 2021Awaiting, 1983, Acrylic on canvas, 130 × 88 cm, Basil & Elise ...