Love, faith, and dynasty — a Byzantine engagement ring from the Stathatos Collection reveals the extraordinary world of a prominent family whose story ends at the fall of Constantinople.
The Medici in Faenza
Faenza gave the world faïence — and the International Museum of Ceramics preserves its greatest treasures, including a small, exquisite Majolica plate that quietly speaks of Medici power.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s bust of Duke Francesco I d’Este
Bernini sculpted Duke Francesco I d’Este without ever meeting him — the result is one of Baroque art’s most theatrically alive portraits, later reimagined by Giovanni Boldini’s expressive brush.
Mithraic Aion and Orphic Phanes
A 2nd-century Roman relief from Modena’s Galleria Estense unites two enigmatic deities — Mithraic Aion and Orphic Phanes — in a breathtaking vision of eternity, cosmic creation, and divine order.
Daisies by Henri Matisse
Painted in 1939 on the eve of World War II, Matisse’s Daisies at the Art Institute of Chicago transforms a simple bouquet into a radiant celebration of colour, light, and resilience.
Personification of Spring
A tiny Coptic tapestry panel at the Met transforms into a profound meditation on renewal — its personification of Spring bridging pagan tradition, early Christian symbolism, and the timeless cycle of life.
David Hockney’s Daffodils
Created during pandemic lockdown, David Hockney’s vibrant iPad painting Daffodils captures spring’s triumphant arrival in Normandy — a luminous, hopeful celebration of nature’s resilience embodied in his memorable phrase, ‘They can’t cancel the Spring.’
Amarna Canopic Jar
Discovered in the Valley of the Kings, this enigmatic Amarna Canopic Jar at the MET haunts with unanswered questions — its exquisitely sculpted lid concealing the identity of a mysterious royal woman.
The Tyche of Antioch
The Tyche of Antioch powerfully embodies Antioch’s legendary foundation, translating Seleucus’ divinely guided vision into marble through symbols of protection, prosperity, and the life-giving flow of the Orontes River.
St John the Baptist and Four Saints
Discover the Ivory Plaque of St John the Baptist and Four Saints—a masterful Byzantine work reflecting devotion, symbolism, and the enduring legacy of Saint John the Baptist.