videos + essays
John Singleton Copley, Watson and the Shark
A former orphan, Watson became a wealthy and influential man—after surviving a near-fatal shark attack.
Théodore Géricault, Raft of the Medusa
Géricault’s massive canvas takes its format from history painting, but its subject is ripped from the headlines.
James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket
A critic accused Whistler of “flinging paint at the public” when he saw this painting, so Whistler sued him.
Giorgione, The Tempest
In the distance, lightning strikes. What does it mean? Poetic and evocative, this painting invites interpretation.
Monolith of Tlaltecuhtli (Earth Lord)
Capable of being male or female, the Earth Lord Tlaltecuhtli is shown here as a woman who has given birth.
Walter De Maria, The Lightning Field
400 stainless steel poles in the high desert of New Mexico are the object, but the subject is the sublime.
Winslow Homer, Northeaster
The artist eliminated a key element of this innovative painting five years after he finished it.
Jacques-Louis David, Napoleon Crossing the Alps
Was this the beginning of the end for David—or a new dawn? As far as portraits of Napoleon go, there’s none better.
The Tiepolo Family
Best known for their allegorical ceiling frescoes, this father-son team also produced cinematic prints.
Exekias, Dionysos Kylix
This cup depicts the god of wine Dionysos escaping pirates by hiding and turning them into dolphins.
Andrea Pozzo, Glorification of Saint Ignatius
Pozzo’s fresco reaffirms the authority of the Catholic Church and hails its expansion across four continents.
Correggio, Jupiter and Io
With her open mouth, tilted head, and soft flesh, Io exudes sensuality, giving herself up willingly to Jupiter.
