Rene Magritte is one of the best known Surrealist painters and loved turning expectations on their heads. Which could explain A LOT about some of the more unsavory parts of his life! And we’ll find out how he turned a simple view of a front lawn into something mind-blowing! See La Condition Humaine does not have an open access image available. You can see it at https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.70170.html SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Menuet antique” composed by Maurice Ravel. Performed by Luis Sarro. Courtesy of musopen.org https://musopen.org/music/4704-menuet-antique/ https://musopen.org/music/performer/luis-sarro/ https://musopen.org/music/composer/maurice-ravel/ Artwork information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.70170.html Magritte information Morris, Desmond. The Lives of the Surrealists  London;: Thames & Hudson, 2018. Elliott, Patrick. Another World : Dalí, Magritte, Míro and the Surrealists. Edinburgh: National Galleries of Scotland, 2010. Print. What You Need to Know about René Magritte (Artsy article) https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-rene-magritte René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War, Paul Simon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lj5RgpgfPE  

It’s Christmas and that means it’s time to look at another of the Gallery’s gorgeous  Annunciation paintings. The elaborate inlay work decorating almost every square inch of this Renaissance room almost makes you miss the main event! Masolino has chosen to show the moment after Gabriel’s astounding news but before Mary’s response. We’ll find out why the room is so tilted and the real reason behind Mary’s silence. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/the-annunciation-by-masolino-da-panicale/ SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Angeli, Archangeli” composed by Andrea Gabrieli. Performed by Michel Rondeau. Courtesy of musopen.org. https://musopen.org/music/43293-angeli-archangeli/ https://musopen.org/music/performer/michel-rondeau/ https://musopen.org/music/composer/andrea-gabrieli/ Artwork information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.18.html Tempera painting (video) https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/special-topics-art-history/creating-conserving/painting-materials-techniques/v/tempera-paint Mary pose information https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/11/30/pregnant-pause-mary-and-annunciation “Christmas Story in Art” (video) https://www.nga.gov/global-site-search-page.html?searchterm=christmas%20story%20in%20art&category=Audio%2FVideo&pageNumber=1&lastFacet=category SUGGESTED READING  Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finley

I realized I’ve been talking a lot lately about pure and pious saints. So, it’s time to lighten up by hanging out with people who know how to party–the Dutch! Scenes like this of a large group drinking and dancing were Jan Steen’s specialty. We’ll find out what brings these country and city folks together and the naughty message behind the caged rooster! See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/the-dancing-couple-by-jan-steen/ SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Achaidh Cheide” by Kevin MacLeod. Music from https://filmmusic.io “Achaidh Cheide” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) The Dancing Couple information Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., “Jan Steen/The Dancing Couple/1663,” Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/1220 (accessed December 03, 2019). Jan Steen: Painter and Storyteller (PDF) https://www.nga.gov/research/publications/pdf-library/jan-steen-painter-and-storyteller.html  

Breezing Up was a huge hit when Homer exhibited it during the American centennial, 1876. Viewers loved the optimism he conveyed in this scene of a trio of boys and their old skipper speeding towards port, one lad looking towards the horizon. We’ll find out how Homer uses a technique we heard about in the Sargent episode that makes us feel like we’re on board and get a brief introduction to lithography, a popular printing method. And I confess to missing an important symbol! See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/breezing-up-a-fair-wind-by-winslow-homer/ SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Today’s Special:Jam Tomorrow” by Dr. Turtle. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/Will_Play_Wonderwall_For_Food/Todays_Special_Jam_Tomorrow Breezing Up information https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1401.html https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.30228.html Winslow Homer information Wilmerding, John. Winslow Homer. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1972. Print. American Paintings of the Nineteenth Century, Part 1 (PDF) https://www.nga.gov/research/publications/pdf-library/american-paintings-of-the-nineteenth-century-part-i.html American Stories information https://www.nga.gov/calendar/guided-tours/docent-led-tours/american-stories.html Lithography tutorial from Minneapolis Institute of Art (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHw5_1Hopsc

A young person kneels before a crowd of one-percenters in this kaleidoscopic medieval scene. Meet Joan of Arc, one very tough teen. She’s here to convince the exiled French court that she can save France from the British. No wonder they look skeptical! And just like Sodoma, we get to discover another artist, Louis Maurice Boutet de Monvel. He painted a series of six images about Joan’s life for Senator William A. Clark that formerly hung in the Corcoran Gallery in Washington DC. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/her-appeal-to-the-dauphin-by-louis-maurice-boutet-de-monvel/ SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Our Story Begins” by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com). Courtesy of https://filmmusic.io License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Joan information Cristen Conger “Why was cross-dressing the only crime Joan of Arc was charged with?” 2 February 2009. HowStuffWorks.com. https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/joan-of-arc-trial.htm 11 October 2019 https://www.biography.com/military-figure/joan-of-arc https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Joan-of-Arc Joan of Arc: Her Image in France and America by Nora Heimann https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/98997.Joan_of_Arc Joan of Arc trial transcripts https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/joanofarc-trial.asp French medievalism and Clark commission https://soundcloud.com/nationalgalleryofart/boutet-de-monvels-jeanne-darc-from-print-to-paint https://soundcloud.com/nationalgalleryofart/the-passion-for-all-things-post-medieval-a-multimedia-perspective NGA Curatorial Records  https://www.nga.gov/collection/curatorial-records-make-an-appointment.html  

Slaying dragons and rescuing damsels–all in a day’s work for St. George of Cappadocia. We get his story from The Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragine, the same place I found the story of St. Lucy! We also discover the flamboyant Sodoma, an artist I’ve never heard of! Apparently, this painting isn’t always on display so it was great to find this hidden gem. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/saint-george-and-the-dragon-by-sodoma/ SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Angeli, Archangeli” composed by Andrea Gabrieli. Performed by Michel Rondeau. Courtesy of musopen.org https://musopen.org/music/43293-angeli-archangeli/ https://musopen.org/music/performer/michel-rondeau/ https://musopen.org/music/composer/andrea-gabrieli/ St. George information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.41691.html Jacobus. The Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine. New York: Arno Press, 1970. Print. Sodoma information Priuli-Bon, Lilian. Sodoma. London: G. Bell & Sons, 1900. Print. Vasari, Giorgio. Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects.

Excited for Season 4 to get started! We’ll be looking at one big favorite and a couple of hidden gems. Plus one artist I’d never even heard of! A Long Look is now available on all podcast apps, including Spotify and TuneIn! As always, you can find links to the information in each episode in the show notes. You can now find transcripts in the show notes too! The best thing about A Long Look? It’s available to all art lovers! Listeners who are blind or have low vision can use accessible apps like Apple Podcasts, Overcast and Downcast. If you want to support the show, please subscribe; leave a rating or review in Apple Podcasts; or spread the word! Recommendations from friends and family is the No. 1 way people are discovering podcasts!  

We’ve reached the end of Season 3! Thanks to all you returning listeners and welcome to our new audience members. If you’ve been enjoying the show, you can show your appreciation by subscribing and sharing! You can also help by leaving a comment or rating in Apple Podcasts or in your podcast app. That helps more people discover the show! “A Long Look” will be back in October to give me time to plan and prep for Season 4. Until then, there’s plenty happening at the Gallery. They’re staying open until 8 p.m. through August 18 when “The Life of Animals in Japanese Art” closes. Works by Oliver Lee Jackson are up til Sept. 15. And “By the Light of the Silvery Moon: A Century of Lunar Photographs” is up through January 5. Check www.nga.gov for details. In the meantime, you can catch up on any episodes you missed. You can find them in the archives here and on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn or your favorite podcast app. And you can follow me on Instagram @alonglookpodcast and check back here for updates. Thanks for listening! SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo  

This dramatic scene was painted by Paolo Veronese during the Counter-Reformation. The Church, reeling from years of corruption and the rise of Protestantism, relied on works like these to promote the importance and validity of the sacraments. And martyrs were meant to serve as role models to Catholics. The idea was, “Hey, look what this person is willing to go through for their faith!” I thought it would be fun to have an actual artist on the podcast! So today, I’m joined by Bruce Campbell, one of the Gallery’s longtime copyists. We discuss technique and what he discovered while copying this painting he describes as operatic. Lucy was one tough lady. Despite being born into a noble Sicilian family in the third century, she became a Christian at a time when Christians were being persecuted mercilessly. She stood up to an abusive Roman governor and died speaking her truth to power. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/the-martyrdom-and-last-communion-of-st-lucy-by-veronese/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Adoramus te Christe” composed by Giovanni Palestrina. Performed by Słowiki Choir. Courtesy of musopen.org https://musopen.org/music/4209-adoramus-te-christe/ St Lucy information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.63264.html#overview https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Lucy de Voragine, Jacobus. The Golden Legend. Anno Press, NY 1969 Counter Reformation information https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/renaissance-and-reformation/protestant-reformation/v/introduction-to-the-protestant-reformation-the-counter-reformation-4-of-4 Bruce Campbell information www.atelierbic.com  

This deceptively peaceful summer landscape actually bristles with energy! Van Gogh painted this in Arles, in the south of France where he tried to escape modern life and re-discover a simpler, brighter world. We’ll find out how the actions of an American admiral in a country on the other side of the globe led to one of the biggest artistic influences that Europe–and Vincent–had ever experienced. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/farmhouse-in-provence-by-vincent-van-gogh/ SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Sonatine – II. Mouvement de Menuet” composed by Maurice Ravel. Performed by Markus Staab. Courtesy of musopen.org. https://musopen.org/music/4724-sonatine/ Farmhouse in Provence information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.52178.html https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.52178.html#relatedpages Japanese influence on Western art Japonisme : Japanese Reflections in Western Art. Sunderland, England: Northern Centre for Contemporary Art, 1986. Print. Put, Max., Sichel, Philippe., and Koechlin, Raymond. Plunder and Pleasure : Japanese Art in the West, 1860-1930 . Leiden: Hotei Pub., 2000. Print. Vincent van Gogh and Japan. Tokyo: TV Asahi, 1992. Print. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/jpon/hd_jpon.htm https://www.kumon-ukiyoe.jp/en/history.php https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/stories/inspiration-from-japan#10 Quotes from van Gogh’s letter explaining color use https://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/audio-video/audio/collection-highlights-english/farmhouse-in-provence-van-gogh.html The Life of Animals in Japanese Arthttps://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2019/life-of-animals-in-japanese-art.html Library of Congress Japanese Prints Collection https://www.loc.gov/collections/japanese-fine-prints-pre-1915/about-this-collection/ Andō, Hiroshige, Artist. Tōto meguro yuhhigaoka / Hiroshige ga. Fuji Japan Mount Tokyo, 1858. [Tokyo: Tsuta-ya Kichizō] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2004666335/.  

Today’s painting was a real challenge to describe! It’s by Wassily Kandinsky, a Russian artist who was one of the pioneers of abstract art. We’ll find out how the Apocalypse, Monet, Matisse and music all came together to influence this work. And we’ll find out how Kandinksy’s philosophy behind the Improvisation paintings made him an early advocate for long looking! Improvisation 31 (Sea Battle) does not have an open access image available but you can see it at https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.56670.html SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Symphony No.40 in G minor, K.550 – III. Minuetto allegretto” composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Performed by Das Orchester Tsumugi. Courtesy of musopen.org https://musopen.org/music/1577-symphony-no-40-in-g-minor-k-550 Improvisation 31 (Sea Battle) information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.56670.html Improvisation 31 (Sea Battle) audio https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.56670.html#relatedpages Wassily Kandinsky, Improvisation No. 31 (Sea Battle) by the National Gallery of Art, 1979? Wassily Kandinsky, Life and Work, by Will Grohmann. Published by New York, H. N. Abrams, 1958 Monet’s “Haystacks” at Art Institute Chicago https://www.artic.edu/collection?artist_ids=Claude%20Monet RECOMMENDED READING Concerning the Spiritual in Art by Wassily Kandinsky

Degas broke the rules with his innovative sculpture of Marie van Goethem, a young ballet student at the Paris Opera. We’ll find out where she came from and the not-so-glamorous life of a ballerina in Paris in the 1880s and how freaked out the public was when it went on display! We’ll also discover how he was the original upcycler, using materials he had on hand to create her. At the end of the episode, I let you know which mystery show she plays an important role in! You can see her at https://alonglookpodcast.com/little-dancer-aged-fourteen-by-edgar-degas/ Ed. note: I’d like to thank the staff of the Object Conservation Department at the Gallery for their help with today’s episode. SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas Episode theme is “Violin Sonata in A major” composed by César Franck. Sonata for Cello and Piano – I. Allegretto ben moderato. Performed by Paul Pitman, Bang-Eun Lee Degas’s Little Dancer exhibition brochure (PDF) Little Dancer Aged Fourteen (NGA Highlights Essay) Degas and His Dancers (Smithsonian Magazine) Modeling with Clay (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocAc–CQdPw Little Dancer featured in Endeavour (link expires 6/30/19)  

Saul of Tarsus is having a very bad day at work. We’ll find out what (or who) is causing all the chaos he encounters on the road and how picking a fight with the wrong guy led Saul into an unexpected career change. And we’ll also talk about the young, impatient Tintoretto who, like JMW Turner, loved to thumb his nose at convention. SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Toccata and Fugue in Dm, BWV 565” composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Performed by Paul Pitman The Conversion of Saint Paul information Robert Echols, “Jacopo Tintoretto/The Conversion of Saint Paul/c. 1544,” Italian Paintings of the Sixteenth Century, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/46142 (accessed June 06, 2019). Tintoretto: Artist of Renaissance Venice, Exhibition Catalog (NGA store)

In the late 1800s, it was common for families to have their pastor over for Sunday dinner. That’s what Richard Norris Brooke is depicting in this cozy domestic scene. We’ll find out what inspired him to document the lives of his African-Americans neighbors in Warrenton, Virginia and the story of the man who founded the first art museum in the country, The Corcoran Gallery. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/a-pastoral-visit-by-richard-norris-brooke/ SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas https://youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Which That Is This” by Doctor Turtle https://doctorturtle.bandcamp.com/album/free-turtle-achive-everything-cc-by A Pastoral Visit information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.166432.html#overview Richard Norris Brooke and William Corcoran information Corcoran Gallery of Art: American Paintings to 1945 (PDF)

John Constable painted this bucolic landscape for Major General Francis Slater–Rebow but it’s not what it appears to be! We’ll talk about the headaches caused by an overeager client and what one of those cows is hiding.  We’ll also see how Constable used a technique to conjure up distant figures, just like Camille Pissarro did decades later. And we’ll find out how Constable’s cheapness and cold feet nearly cost him the love of his life! See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/wivenhoe-park-essex-by-john-constable/ SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas https://youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Piano Sonata no. 11, K. 331 – I. Andante grazioso” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Courtesy of musopen.org. Wivenhoe Park, Essex info https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/constable-wivenhoe-park-essex.html https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.1147.html https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.1147.html#relatedpages British Paintings of the Sixteenth through Nineteenth Centuries (PDF) Constable info John Constable (Masters of Art Series) by John Walker (Amazon)

Edward Hopper was famous for his ambiguous paintings and “Cape Cod Evening” is no exception. We’ll find out the possible pop culture influence for the scene and how dumb luck can play a big role in creating art. And just what is the dog looking at? See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/cape-cod-evening-by-edward-hopper/ SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas Episode theme is “On the Cool Side” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Robert Torchia, “Edward Hopper/Cape Cod Evening/1939,” American Paintings, 1900–1945, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/61252 (accessed December 27, 2018). “My Blue Heaven” (YouTube)

In a complete 180 from the spiritual contemplation of our last episode, today we’re looking at the portrait of Jeanne Bécu, who became Madame du Barry, the last mistress of Louis XV of France. She lived and loved (a lot!) in the days before the French Revolution. We’ll find out her fate along with that of her portraitist, Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun. I’ll give you a hint–only one of them survives! See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/portrait-of-madame-du-barry-by-elisabeth-louise-vigee-le-brun/ SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas Episode theme is “String Quartet no. 3, Op. 136” composed by Benjamin Godard, performed by Steve’s Bedroom Band. Courtesy of musopen.org Madame du Barry information Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun information Memoirs of Madame Vigée Lebrun Translated by Lionel Strachey Published by Doubleday, Page, & Company 1903. Free epub available at Google Books Wikipedia entry on Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun Grove Art Online (for DC library card holders): Liechtenstein painting information National Gallery copyist program information

Welcome back for Season 3! We’re starting with one of Vermeer's gorgeous, mysterious paintings. We’ll discover the layers of meaning in this simple domestic scene, what’s in the balance and just what the Jesuits have to do with her. We’ll also find out how a guy who started out as a butcher ended up donating this painting to the Gallery. You can find reading recommendations and a transcript at the end of the post. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/woman-holding-a-balance-by-johannes-vermeer/ SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT) “A Long Look” theme is Ascension by Ron Gelinas Episode theme is Caro Mio Ben in C Major by Giuseppe Giordani, performed by Joel Meza. Courtesy of Soundcloud Women Holding a Balance information Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., “Johannes Vermeer/Woman Holding a Balance/c. 1664,” Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/1236 (accessed February 11, 2019). https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/vermeer-woman-holding-a-balance.html Vermeer information https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1951.html Widener information Dutch Paintings at the National Gallery of Art: The Untold Stories behind the Acquisitions of the Rembrandts, Vermeers, and Other Treasures in the Collection (audio) RECOMMENDED READING Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting (NGA shop) Vermeer: Faith in Art by Daniel Arasse

I just wanted to let you know I’m hard at work on Season 3! We’re going to start off with another Gallery favorite, this time by Vermeer. The new season starts soon, and in the spirit of spring rejuvenation, I’ve updated the intro to give new listeners a better idea of what to expect when they click play.  So, get ready to listen while strolling through the spring blooms and cherry blossoms. For those of you with low vision, you can listen with Apple Podcasts or the Overcast app on your iOS devices. As always, you can find links to the information in each episode in the show notes. And I’ll include any books or publications you might like. SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGEdNSNkZoo&feature=youtu.be

We’ve reached the end of Season 2! Thanks to everyone who came back and all the new listeners and subscribers who joined us. I appreciate your support! I’ll be taking some time off for the holidays and to plan Season 3. The gallery has some fantastic shows up, so visit if you can! There’s Corot’s Women, a retrospective of Gordon Park’s photography, the Birmingham Project by Dawoud Bey, the Rachel Whiteread retrospective and more. There are also a few more dates for senior lecturer David Gariff’s The Christmas Story in Art a fascinating look at how the story we know came about. This is where I found out about the symbolism of rocks! You can catch up on any episodes you missed here or you can listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Soundcloud, TuneIn or your favorite podcast app. You can find links to some of these below. I’ll be posting updates here, so check back.  And as always, thanks for joining me! SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is Ascension by Ron Gelinas Exhibitions information https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/current.html The Christmas Story in Art schedule and live stream The post End of Season 2 appeared first on A Long Look.

The Gallery calls Giorgione “one of the most mysterious artists in the history of art.” We’ll talk about his innovative landscape style and where he got the idea for this gorgeous and unusual depiction of the Nativity. We’ll also find out the meaning of rocks and just what the heck is up with those floating baby heads at the top of the cave! See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/the-adoration-of-the-shepherds-by-giorgione/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is Ascension by Ron Gelinas Episode theme is Almain I (For Bassoon and Harp – Höger-Rønnes) composed by John Bull, performed by Mac Playback Harp. Courtesy of musopen.org. The Adoration of the Shepherds information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.432.html In Depth: Madonna and Child by Gretchen Hirschauer, Associate Curator, Italian and Spanish Paintings Cherub information Hopler, Whitney. The Differences Between Cherubs, Cupids, and Other Angels in Art. ThoughtCo, Jun. 22, 2018, thoughtco.com/cherubs-and-cupids-angels-of-love-124005. Giorgione information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgione Slow Art Day RECOMMENDED READING Inventing the Renaissance Putto by Charles Dempsey The post The Adoration of the Shepherds by Giorgione appeared first on A Long Look.

This full-length portrait of Scottish lawyer William Grant was Stuart’s first but already he was innovating. We’ll find out how a cold day in the studio led to this creative variation on a standard portrait pose and just what the heck the Serpentine greeting is! We’ll also find out how despite his fame and plenty of work, Stuart ripped off the first First Lady, Martha Washington! See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/the-skater-portrait-of-william-grant-by-gilbert-stuart/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is Ascension by Ron Gelinas Episode theme is “6 String Quartets – Quartet no. 1” composed by Charles Wesley, performed by Steve’s Bedroom Band. Courtesy of musopen.org Gilbert Stuart information https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1911.html The Skater information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.39729.html George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait) National Portrait Gallery entry Serpentine Greeting/Mohawk (YouTube) Recommended Reading American Paintings of the Eighteenth Century (PDF) Slow Art Day The post The Skater (Portrait of William Grant) by Gilbert Stuart appeared first on A Long Look.

Camille Pissarro was an Impressionist painter who created this sun-drenched view of a famous park in 1900. We’ll find out where this lovely scene takes place and how and why just 5 small strokes of color can conjure up a fashionista. We’ll also discover its connection to Hermann Goering and how a Gallery director was instrumental in the formation of the Monuments Men program. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/place-du-carrousel-by-camille-pissarro/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is Ascension by Ron Gelinas Episode theme is Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn composed by Maurice Ravel, performed by Luis Sarro. Courtesy of musopen.org Place du Carrousel information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.52199.html#overview Impressionism https://www.nga.gov/features/slideshows/impressionism.html World War II Provenance Research https://www.nga.gov/collection/wwii-research.html Monuments Men information https://www.nga.gov/about/monuments-officers-national-gallery-art.html The Monuments Men (movie) The Monuments Men (book) Slow Art Day Recommended Reading Art and Illusion by E.H. Gombrich The post Place du Carrousel by Camille Pissarro appeared first on A Long Look.

A big naked guy is shown sitting around with a bunch of lions in Rubens' over-the-top painting. Meet Daniel, a favorite counselor to the Persian king Darius. Daniel has made some powerful enemies which is how he got here. We’ll find out who ends up being the lions’ breakfast and how paintings like this allowed Rubens to become a successful diplomat. We’ll also hear about how a painting the owners thought was just a copy and maintenance headache became one of the most highly praised pieces in the Gallery’s collection. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/daniel-in-the-lions-den-by-sir-peter-paul-rubens/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas Episode theme is Fugue in G minor, “Little”, BWV 578, composed by Johann Sebastian Bach and performed by the Skidmore College Orchestra. Courtesy of musopen.org Sir Peter Paul Rubens information https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1847.html Daniel in the Lions’ Den information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.50298.html#overview National Zoo Lion Cam Reviewing Committee information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reviewing_Committee_on_the_Export_of_Works_of_Art Slow Art Day Recommended Reading Master of Shadows: The Secret Diplomatic Career of the Painter Peter Paul Rubens by Mark Lamster The post Daniel in the Lions’ Den by Sir Peter Paul Rubens appeared first on A Long Look.

“Ghost,” the ambitious sculpture by Rachel Whiteread tells a story of family, memory, impending loss and survival. We’ll find out the mind-blowing idea behind it, the tenacity of a young artist and its connection to a rock legend. “Ghost” is part of a survey of Whiteread’s work at the Gallery which runs through January 13, 2019. See the artwork at https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.131285.html SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas. Episode theme is “Sad Ambient Piano” by AShamaluevMusic. Courtesy of Soundcloud. Ghost information Molly Donovan/Rachel Whiteread’s Vies Trouvées (Found Lives) (accessed Oct 20, 2018). Rachel Whiteread: “Ghost” (video) Bronze casting (video) Courtesy of the Khan Academy Slow Art Day The post Ghost by Rachel Whiteread appeared first on A Long Look.

Just like the Annunciation I talked about a while ago, there’s a lot going on in this scene portraying the birth of the Virgin Mary. This stunning panel is one of a trio showing events from the lives of Anna and Joachim, the parents of the Virgin Mary. We’ll find out the surprising way their struggle with infertility ended and how di Bartolo used small touches to turn this religious scene into something wonderfully warm and very human. And there’s a mystery here! The catalog says this was very likely part of a large altarpiece and that several panels are missing! Click here to see what it might have looked like. Also check out this video to see how these kinds of panels were created and how artists painted with gold! See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/the-nativity-of-the-virgin-andrea-di-bartolo/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is Medieval March in D minor by Manel Fera. Courtesy of Soundcloud Nativity of the Virgin information Miklós Boskovits (1935–2011), “Andrea di Bartolo/The Nativity of the Virgin/c. 1400/1405,” Italian Paintings of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries, NGA Online Editions. Altarpiece Reconstruction https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.183.html#supp-altarpiece_reconstruction Andrea diBartolo information https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.91.html Gold-Ground Panel Painting  courtesy of the Khan Academy (video) Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com The post The Nativity of the Virgin – Andrea di Bartolo appeared first on A Long Look.

John Singer Sargent was famous for his high society portraits set in elegant rooms like this. Find out why he gave up what he called “a pimp’s profession” and began painting just for his own pleasure, doing landscapes and scenes of his family. His niece Rose-Marie, pictured here, became one of his favorite subjects. Painted just before World War I, we also find out what happened to them after this peaceful afternoon. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/nonchaloir-repose-john-singer-sargent/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas Episode theme is 3 Pieces composed by Lili Boulanger performed by  Pandora Selfridge. Courtesy of musopen.org Nonchaloir (Repose) information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.35080.html https://www.nga.gov/audio-video/audio/repose-nonchaloir-sargent.html John Singer Sargent information https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1858.html Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com Recommended Reading: A Catalogue of the Collection of American Paintings in the Corcoran Gallery of Art: Volume 2, Painters Born from 1850 to 1910 (PDF 9.8 MB) American Paintings of the Nineteenth Century, Part II (PDF 91.2 MB) John Singer Sargent and His Muse by Karen Corsano and Daniel Williman The post Nonchaloir (Repose) – John Singer Sargent appeared first on A Long Look.

This evening scene celebrates the peace and prosperity the Dutch were finally enjoying after 80 years of war with Spain. But don’t be fooled by its bucolic vibe. The backstory of its ownership is something straight out of Indiana Jones. We’ll find out why the cow is a Dutch icon and the clever way one family screwed with the Nazis to keep this out of their hands. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/river-landscape-with-cows-aelbert-cuyp/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas Episode theme is Sonata No. 15 in D Major Pastoral, Op. 28 – I. Allegro composed by Ludwig van Beethoven performed by Paul Pitman. Courtesy of musopen.org River Landscape with Cows information Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., “Aelbert Cuyp/River Landscape with Cows/1645/1650,” Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century, NGA Online Editions (accessed August 27, 2018). A Painting’s History: Cuyp’s River Landscape with Cows (video) Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com Recommended Reading Paintings in the Dutch Golden Age (PDF) The Embarrassment of Riches by Simon Schama The post River Landscape with Cows – Aelbert Cuyp appeared first on A Long Look.

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's enormous, dramatic painting  focuses on the emotional homecoming in the Biblical story of “The Prodigal Son” in which youth and money make a bad combination. Murillo painted this as one of eight paintings for a charitable hospital in Seville and we’ll find how the king of Spain’s top official tried to “borrow” it to place in a royal museum. We’ll also discover its connection to Napoleon Bonaparte and a guy nicknamed “Joey Bottles.” See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/the-return-of-the-prodigal-son-bartolome-esteban-murillo/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas Episode theme is “Adagio in G minor” composed by Tomaso Albinoni/Remo Giazotto and performed by Noh Donghwan. Courtesy of musopen.org The Prodigal Son information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.34956.html    “Joey Bottles” article https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/nyregion/new-jersey/26bonapartenj.html Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com Recommended Reading Spanish Paintings of the Fifteenth through Nineteenth Centuries (PDF) The post The Return of the Prodigal Son – Bartolomé Esteban Murillo appeared first on A Long Look.

Welcome back for Season 2! I’m starting off with one of the Gallery’s greatest hits, the portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci by Leonardo da Vinci. It’s the only painting by Leonardo in America! We’ll explore this unusual two-sided work, find out the story behind the strange combination of plants on the back and even learn a little Latin. I’ll also tell you where you can find Leonardo’s fingerprint! See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/portrait-of-ginevra-de-benci-by-leonardo-da-vinci/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Galliard, Parthenia XIII (For Bassoon and Harp – Feller-Rønnes)” composed by John Bull. Performed by Mac Playback Harp. https://musopen.org/music/31808-galliard-parthenia-xiii/ Ginevra de’ Benci information https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/da-vinci-ginevra-de-benci.html https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.50724.html#relatedpages Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com RECOMMENDED READING Virtue and Beauty: Leonardo’s Ginevra de’ Benci and Renaissance Portraits of Women (PDF) The post Portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci by Leonardo da Vinci appeared first on A Long Look.

Hey everybody, I just wanted to let you know I’m hard at work on Season 2! We’re going to start off with one of the Gallery’s greatest hits, the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in America. The new season will start in August, so you can listen at the beach, at the pool or that great waterfront bar you like so much! And don’t forget to download episodes to your device so you can listen in the air, on the train or on the road. In the meantime, check out any episodes you might’ve missed and if you’re in DC go visit the Gallery! They have a lot of great exhibits and there’s an Ingmar Bergman film program running through Sept. 3. You can find more info at www.nga.gov. The post Hiatus Update from Karen appeared first on A Long Look.

So we’ve reached the end of Season 1! The show will go on hiatus while I review, assess and prep for Season 2. I hope you’ve been enjoying the show and maybe even tried some long looking yourself. Thanks to all of you who’ve taken time to listen and subscribe, I appreciate your support. I’ll be posting updates here, so stay tuned! In the meantime, you can catch up on any episodes you missed and maybe even go visit the Gallery! They have a lot of great exhibits going on as well as their wonderful permanent collection. Thanks for joining me! show notes “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo National Gallery information www.nga.gov The post 12 End of Season 1 appeared first on A Long Look.

Joseph Mallord William Turner was quite a painter and quite a character. He’s described as vulgar, uncouth, unsophisticated and cheap. And yet, he became one of England’s most beloved artists through his groundbreaking vision and skill. We’ll see how his interest in the Industrial Revolution and love of the natural world come together in this dazzling image and take a look at how he created something so gorgeous yet ominous. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/11-keelmen-heaving-in-coals-by-moonlight-turner/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave), Op. 26” by Felix Mendelssohn https://musopen.org/music/306-the-hebrides-fingals-cave-op-26/ Turner information https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/turner-keelmen-heaving-in-coals-by-moonlight.html https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.1225.html#overview The post 11 Keelmen Heaving in Coals by Moonlight – Turner appeared first on A Long Look.

Hi everybody! Just wanted to remind you all that Slow Art Day is this Saturday, April 14! If you’ve been listening to the show, you know that Americans on average, spend about six to 10 seconds looking at works of art in museums and the slow art movement encourages people to slow down and spend more time with a work of art. So, let’s change that statistic! Go visit your favorite museum or gallery and take a long look. You can find participating locations at www.slowartday.com. Let us know in the comments what you discover and what your experience was like! Have fun! The post 10 Slow Art Day is Here (Almost)! appeared first on A Long Look.

This gelatin silver print by American artist Charles Sheeler is one of several images he created while experimenting with the modernist ideas he’d discovered in the breakthrough work of artists like Cezanne, Matisse and Picasso. We’ll find out how these experimental images, created in an old country house in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, led to Sheeler becoming one of the most innovative and important American artists. (By the way, Bucks County is lovely, I highly recommend visiting!) And we’ll discover his connection to Vogue and Vanity Fair! See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/09-doylestown-house-the-stove-sheeler/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Dead From the Beginning Alive Till the End” by Doctor Turtle. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/none_given_1561/Dead_From_The_Beginning_Alive_Till_The_End Doylestown House — The Stove information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.103272.html https://www.nga.gov/global-site-search-page.html?searchterm=sheeler&category=Online%20Features&pageNumber=1&lastFacet=category “Charles Sheeler,” NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/constituent/2745 Gelatin silver process https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelatin_silver_process Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com The post 09 Doylestown House-The Stove – Sheeler appeared first on A Long Look.

This sunny, warm painting is a welcome relief in this miserable March. ”Skiffs” is one in a series of young men boating by Gustave Caillebotte who was a lesser known Impressionist painter until a beautiful 2015 exhibition at the National Gallery. We’ll find out about his relationship with his fellow Impressionists, his killer art collection and how he turns up in one of Renoir’s most famous paintings. I’d like to thank the staff at the Phillips Collection for their help with this episode. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/08-skiffs-caillebotte/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15 – V. Happiness by Robert Schumann performed by Donald Betts. https://musopen.org/music/2326-scenes-from-childhood-op-15/ Skiffs information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.66404.html Introduction to the Exhibition—Gustave Caillebotte: The Painter’s Eye Gustave Caillebotte: The Painter’s Eye, Exhibition Cataloghttps://shop.nga.gov/item/645727p/gustave-caillebotte-the-painter-s-eye-exhibition-catalog/1.html Renoir and Friends: Luncheon of the Boating Party https://www.amazon.com/Renoir-Friends-Luncheon-Boating-Party/dp/191128200X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520629125&sr=8-1&keywords=renoir+and+friends+phillips Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com The post 08 Skiffs – Caillebotte appeared first on A Long Look.

This warm and welcoming self-portrait by Dutch master Judith Leyster is a gallery favorite. Join me while I talk about how this remarkable woman accomplished what few women artists did in her time only to disappear from history until an English court case began her revival. We’ll discover the reason why her impractical outfit served a larger purpose and her clever two-birds-with-one-stone marketing technique. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/07-judith-leyster-self-portrait/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Concerto for 2 Flutes in C major, RV 533 – III. Allegro” by Antonio Vivaldi performed by the Orchestra Gli Armonici https://musopen.org/music/3613-concerto-for-2-flutes-in-c-major-rv-533/ Self-Portrait information Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., “Judith Leyster/Self-Portrait/c. 1630,” Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/37003 (accessed February 12, 2018). https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/leyster-self-portrait.html Court case information https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/leyster-self-portrait.html#judith-leyster-self-portrait-c-1630 Judith Leyster: A Woman Painter in Holland’s Golden Age, by Frima Fox Hofrichter, Doornspijk, 1989, Davaco Publishers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Leyster#Leyster_and_Frans_Hals Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com The post 07 Judith Leyster Self-Portrait appeared first on A Long Look.

Today, I’ll be looking at “The Railway” by Édouard Manet. This enigmatic painting has fascinated viewers since its creation in 1873. Set in a rapidly modernizing Paris, the work raised loads of questions (and critics’ hackles.) We’ll find answers to some of the mysteries and (just like in “The Mill” episode) discover something I’d never seen before! See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/06-the-railway-manet/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is Claude Debussy’s “Cello Sonata – III. Finale – Anime” performed by Paul Pitman and Bang-Eun Lee https://musopen.org/music/4516-cello-sonata/ The Railway https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.43624.html#relatedpages Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com The post 06 The Railway – Manet appeared first on A Long Look.

Today, I’ll be looking at “Blue Morning” by George Bellows. Bellows lived and worked in New York at the turn of the 20th century and studied under artist Robert Henri (pronounced Hen-rye). His classmates included John Sloan and Edward Hopper. “Blue Morning” may have been inspired by Henri’s call for his students to paint the world around them instead of more genteel academic scenes. We’ll find out how Bellows is connected to Mary Cassatt and how New Jersey inspired one of the greatest technological achievements of the 20th century. And we’ll see how an artist who’s so highly regarded for realism bent the rules a little here! See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/05-blue-morning-bellows/ SHOW NOTES “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo Episode theme is “Frog Legs Rag,” courtesy of WFMU’s Free Music Archive http://freemusicarchive.org/music/James_Scott/Frog_Legs_Ragtime_Era_Favorites/01_-_james_scott_-_frog_legs_rag Blue Morning Robert Torchia, “George Bellows/Blue Morning/1909,” American Paintings, 1900–1945, NGA Online Editions, https://purl.org/nga/collection/artobject/46557 (accessed January 11, 2018). “The Rise & Fall of Penn Station” http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/penn/ Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com The post 05 Blue Morning – Bellows appeared first on A Long Look.

In this belated holiday episode, I’ll be looking at another favorite of mine, “The Annunciation,” by Jan Van Eyck. This complicated and fascinating painting illustrates the Biblical story of the Archangel Gabriel’s arrival to announce to Mary that she’s been chosen to bear the son of God. We’ll talk about how this innovative painter wove elaborate religious imagery into this composition and the technique he used to create such gorgeous detail. We’ll also find out why a zodiac is involved, what Van Eyck did as a side gig and which Renaissance noble may have been the model for Mary. And you get to hear me mispronounce Latin! See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/04-the-annunciation-van-eyck/ SHOW NOTES The Annunciation  https://www.nga.gov/Collection/art-object-page.46.html Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo goo.gl/daee6S “The Annunciation” theme is “Greensleeves to a Ground” performed by Ariel Martin Bellio https://musopen.org/music/2096/anonymous/greensleeves-to-a-ground/ The post 04 The Annunciation – Van Eyck appeared first on A Long Look.

Today, I’ll be looking at Mary Cassatt’s “The Boating Party.” This large painting represents a big break in style for Cassatt. She was one of the few American Impressionists in Paris as well as one of the few American women working as professional artists. She’s best known for her intimate domestic scenes of mothers and children but we’ll find out how an exhibit of Japanese prints and summers on the Mediterranean influenced her to try new techniques and move beyond Impressionism. See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/03-the-boating-party-cassatt/ SHOW NOTES “The Boating Party” https://www.nga.gov/Collection/art-object-page.46569.html#overview For information on Mary Cassatt, visit  NGA Mary Cassatt online feature  and click on “Mary Cassatt – Selected Paintings” or “Mary Cassatt – Selected Prints” Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com “A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo goo.gl/daee6S “The Boating Party” theme is “Laideronnette, imperatrice des pagodes” by Ravel, performed by Luis Sarro https://musopen.org/music/539/maurice-ravel/ma-mere-loye/ The post 03 The Boating Party – Cassatt appeared first on A Long Look.