From the elements of art to the great goddess Durga — Smarthistory is adding new content every week.
Prehistoric to contemporary
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Willem Claesz. Heda, Still Life with Glasses and Tobacco
This collection of objects speaks to the international mercantile culture and wealth of the Netherlands in the 17th century.
Florine Stettheimer, Portrait of Alfred Stieglitz
This portrait gives us a glimpse into the creative circle of Alfred Stieglitz in 1920s New York, with references to Georgia O'Keeffe, Arthur Dove, Henry McBride, and others.
Joachim Michael Salecker, Cup with cover with Hebrew inscriptions
This ornamented silver cup tells a story about a prominent Jewish man close to rulers and European courts at a time when Jewish life was restricted
Guido Mazzoni, Head of a Man
Mazzoni, one of the foremost terracotta sculptors of Northern Italy during the Renaissance, incarnates clay with the spirit of a living person
The arts of Africa, c. 18th–20th century
African arts played a central role in their communities, whether to communicate royalty, sacrality, inner virtues, aesthetic interests, genealogy or other central concerns
Gustav Klimt, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I
Inspired by sixth-century Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna, Klimt embellished this portrait with layers of paint, gesso, and gold and silver leaf.
Celadon incense burner with lion cover and celadon incense burner with open work geometric design
The sheer variety of Goryeo celadon incense burners demonstrates how widespread the culture of incense burning was during the period.
Eight Baekje tiles with various designs
This set of eight tiles exemplifies the elegant and sophisticated artistic style of the Baekje Kingdom
Bronze bell with inscription: “Cheonheungsa”
This large temple bell is the oldest extant bell from the Goryeo period.
Ten-story Stone Pagoda of Gyeongcheonsa Temple
This ten-story stone pagoda was originally erected on the site of Gyeongcheonsa Temple in 1348
Maitreya Bodhisattva and Amitabha Buddha from Gamsansa Temple
The Maitreya Bodhisattva and Amitabha Buddha from Gamsansa Temple demonstrate how the Buddhist sculptures of Unified Silla developed during the eighth century.
José Campeche, Exvoto de la Sagrada Familia
This small painting contains one of the only known depictions of Black, enslaved figures from the Spanish Caribbean during the colonial era (1492–1898).
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