Friday Featured Art: Michelangelo's Slaves

A year ago we were in Istanbul for spring break.  I was recently looking at some of our photos from the trip.  We had a layover in Paris and got to visit the Louvre.  (That was a dream come true!)  Michelangelo's Captives are almost beyond belief.  The Rebellious Slave and the Dying Slave were carved from marble but left unfinished.  The muscles in the arms and the chests are so incredibly lifelike.  I love Michelangelo.  {These are photos I took.}

Friday Featured Art: Adoration of the Shepherds

Adoration of the Shepherds by Luca Giordano is a painting held by the Louvre.  Very Christmas-y.  I like the lamb.

Friday Featured Art: The Geographer

My nephew got me reading a book called Chasing Vermeer.  I'm about halfway through, and I'm enjoying it.  One of the Vermeer paintings that it references is The Geographer.  I looked back through some pictures and realized that it was one of the two Vermeer paintings that we saw at the Louvre in March.  Vermeer's work is really incredible.  (More about the book later!)

Friday Featured Art: The Lacemaker

I enjoyed seeing two pieces by Vermeer at the Louvre. The Lacemaker is a beautiful, small painting. I really love the intricate frame. My Dutch grandfather would make pictures by cutting different shades of wood and piecing them together - so I thought it was neat to see the flower designs inlaid in this wood frame.

Friday Featured Art: Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss

Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss was one of the first famous pieces that we saw at the Louvre. It's very beautiful. You can find out more about it by visiting the Louvre's special site here.

Friday Featured Art: Winged Victory of Samothrace

During our time in Paris, I came face to face with my favorite work of art of all time: Winged Victory of Samothrace. It is so incredible. It stands at the top of a staircase in the Louvre. I really loved seeing it.

Winged Victory of Samothrace

After seeing Winged Victory in Frank Lloyd Wright's playroom yesterday, I thought I would look it up. I would go to France just to be able to stand at the foot of this statue. In the meantime, though, I have found museum web sites to be a great source of fascinating information. The Louvre has an incredible feature on their web site that teaches about the statue's drapery and pose and provenance, etc. Check it out here.