All Essays
Essays
Discover Charlotte’s insights on art history and history, from quick digestible summaries to in-depth scholarly explorations.
-
Charles I’s Inferiority Complex, part 1
The essay explores how portraiture, especially that of Charles I, served as a political tool in the 16th and 17th…
-
Introducing Hopetoun House, Part 3: Blurring the Lines
Hunting in early modern Scotland was a grand display of social status, intertwined with property rights and land management. Although…
-
Introducing Hopetoun House, Part 2: A Dynamic Complex
Hopetoun House, commissioned in 1698 by Lady Margaret Hope for her son Charles, was designed by Sir William Bruce and…
-
Introducing Hopetoun House, Part 1: Archival Sources
The project examines the eighteenth-century Scottish country house, particularly Hopetoun House, as a reflection of socio-economic shifts during the 1700s.…
-
The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 10: December Page
The December page of Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry highlights the significance of boar hunting in noble…
-
The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 9: October and November Pages
The October and November pages highlight rural life in 15th-century France. October portrays farmers sowing seeds along the Seine, showcasing…
-
The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 8: September Page
The page illustrates a two-phase painting depicting a grape harvest and knightly jousting, highlighting the stark societal divide in the…
-
The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 7: August Page
This page juxtaposes the aristocracy and the peasantry simultaneously. Aristocrats enjoy the sport of hawking, where spaniels and hawks worked…
-
The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 6: July Page
The July page illustrates summer harvest activities and sheep shearing near the Château of Poitiers, enhanced by the duke of…
-
The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 5: June Page
The June page, created by Barthélemy d’Eyck in the 1480s, illustrates peasant haymaking activities vital for livestock feeding. The scene…
-
The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 4: April & May Pages
The April and May pages illustrate the lives of medieval nobility, highlighting a betrothal and May Day festivities. Marriage served…
-
The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 3: March Page
The March page illustrates a peasant scene with Château de Lusignan, highlighting the duke of Berry’s influence. Peasants prepare land…
-
The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 2: February Page
The February page of Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry presents a peasant scene contrasting with January’s depiction.…
-
The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 1: January Page
The January page of Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry illustrates the duke at an extravagant Epiphany feast,…
-
The Very Rich Hours of the duke of Berry, Part 0: Key Background
Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry is a 15th-century illuminated manuscript, significant for its artistic beauty and insights…
-
Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, part 3: Let’s talk about it!
Santa Maria delle Grazie, funded by Milan’s dukes, was strategically located to attract pilgrims and merchants. The friars in the…
-
Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, part 2: Who were the Mendicants?
The painting’s significance is tied to Leonardo da Vinci’s pursuit of illusionism and its historical placement in the Dominican convent…
-
Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, part 1: Let’s Rethink This Piece. Pretty Please.
This essay examines Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, highlighting its significance in popular culture and art history. It criticises superficial…
-
Mona Lisa is not Mysterious or Enigmatic, part 4: Let’s Talk about Mona Lisa Finally!
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 1500s, showcases his mastery in creating depth and humanity…
-
Mona Lisa is not Mysterious or Enigmatic, part 3: Portraiture in the Middle Ages and Early Renaissance
The text explores the emergence of Humanism during the medieval-Renaissance period, highlighting the influence of Antiquity on intellectual creativity. It…
For people who want to understand history, not just know it.
New essays on art, history, and architecture — delivered straight to your inbox.
New essays, no spam, unsubscribe anytime — Privacy Policy.