From the elements of art to the great goddess Durga — Smarthistory is adding new content every week.
Prehistoric to contemporary
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Donatello, David
His nudity references classical antiquity, but David embodies the ideals and concerns of 15th-century Florence.
Nicolas Poussin, The Holy Family on the Steps
Teeming with references both religious and art historical, The Holy Family on the Steps is a dense painting.
Merovingian Looped Fibulae
Found in a cemetery in Jouy-le-Comte, France, these important fibulae tell a story of the fragility of historical knowledge.
Gentile Bellini, Procession in Piazza San Marco
The Procession in Piazza San Marco argues that Venice is a site of miracles.
The Neonian Baptistry, Ravenna
Thousands of medieval Christians were baptized in this building, all under a glittering mosaic of Christ's own baptism.
Marginalia in the Rutland Psalter
The marginalia of the Rutland Psalter challenged the reader’s comprehension, perhaps to get him or her to return continuously and often.
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
An unassuming brick exterior belies the luminous early medieval mosaics within.
Minaʾi Bowl with Courtly and Astrological Motifs
Though small in size, this 12th-century Iranian bowl is filled with rich decoration: a golden sun, planets, and scenes of court life.
Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, Leaving My Reservation to Go to Ottawa and Fight for a New Constitution
Adopting elements of Coast Salish art and Surrealism, Yuxweluptun paints about the legacies of colonialism.
Billy “War Soldier” Soza, The Wind Only I Am Afraid Of
Soza declares "The Wind Only I Am Afraid Of," taking on the art establishment and the political establishment as well.
Rita Letendre, Menace (Ramat Gan)
Letendre's expressive, gestural paint application creates an image that seems to be moving, shifting, and surging.
