From the elements of art to the great goddess Durga — Smarthistory is adding new content every week.
Prehistoric to contemporary
videos + essays
Peter Paul Rubens, The Adoration of the Magi
It's said that Rubens painted this altarpiece entirely by himself—an exceptional feat for a painting this monumental.
Peter Paul Rubens, Descent from the Cross
Rubens's altarpiece meditates on the gravity of Christ as he is lowered from the cross.
Peter Paul Rubens, Elevation of the Cross
Rubens's enormous altarpiece invites us to take part in the physical and emotional experience of Christ's elevation.
Muriel Hasbun, X post facto (6.7)
Hasbun's photograph of an X-ray is deeply laden with meaning and tragedy.
The Miracle of the Black Leg
The Miracle of the Black Leg indicates how medieval and Renaissance Europeans may have thought about race.
Caravaggio, Resurrection of Lazarus
Caravaggio’s Resurrection of Lazarus places figures in moments of intimate closeness.
Michelangelo, Bruges Madonna
Showing off his skill, Michelangelo carves the popular subject of the Madonna and Child, but with a twist (literally).
Genesis Báez, Crossing Time
Báez’s photograph poetically expresses the tie between the artist and her origins.
Hans Memling, Saint Ursula Shrine
Each panel of this reliquary is carefully painted with scenes from Saint Ursula's pilgrimage.
Hans Memling, Triptych with John the Baptist and John the Evangelist
Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist are honored in Memling’s altarpiece.
Jean Fouquet, Virgin Surrounded by Seraphim and Cherubim, Melun Diptych
Fouquet celebrates the beauty of Mary as the Queen of Heaven.
Compound Microscope and Case
Getty Conversations
Scientific instruments, like this ornate microscope, were a powerful tool during the Age of Enlightenment.
