King David: Hero, Sinner, Friend of God.

September 7, 2011 · by · in Art History, Explorations, Religious History, Sacred Art

King David. When he was only a teenager, he was anointed by Israel’s prophet, Samuel, to be Israel’s next king. God needed to restore purity in his appointed earthly rulers after Saul defiled his divinely appointed post by disobeying God and taking…

A Haggardly Beautiful Mary Magdalene

September 6, 2011 · by · in Art, Art History, Essay, Explorations, Religious History, Sacred Art, UCLA

This Mary Magdalene was sculpted by Donatello. Artistically and materialistically, the sculpture departs from his smooth bronze and marble work. Mary stands over 6′ tall, made of wood and gesso.  More than stone or marble, I believe the wood and…

Albrecht Durer and the Man of Sorrows

August 31, 2011 · by · in Art, Art History, Explorations, Jesus, Northern Art, Religious History, Sacred Art

Albrecht Dürer was born in 1471 to a successful family, the head of whom was a goldsmith. When he was 15, Dürer began studying with Michael Wolgemut, a German printmaker. It was under his tutelage that Dürer shaped into a…

The Magic of the Louvre

August 23, 2011 · by · in Shorts

This is me in 2007 front of the Winged Victory of Samothrace. I love this photo because it sums up so much of my trip and the emotion behind it. I was 18. I went to Europe (Italy, France, Spain)…

On the Power of Aesthetics and Artistic Intent

August 22, 2011 · by · in Art, Art History, Art Theory, Explorations

I remember the first and only time I’ve experienced something close to Stendhal’s Syndrome. I was traveling in Rome. It was 2007, and I was 18. I had just seen the Pantheon, eaten chocolate gelato for a refreshing treat, and was…

What is Resemblance?

August 4, 2011 · by · in Art, Art History, Explorations

This brief exploration stems from a conversation I had with an art history professor earlier this year. “Well, what is resemblance?” he mused. Ever since he asked, I’ve had it nipping at the back of my brain, waiting to be…