The evolution of bas-relief through 5 masterpieces

img La Caccia al leone di Assurbanipal 1

Sculpture is fascinating because through various techniques it allows the creation of extraordinary works such as Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne or Canova’s seductive Paolina Borghese. However, there is one technique that has fascinated all ages and never ceases to seduce artists and visitors even today. I refer to bas-relief, an artistic technique that has evolved over the centuries, transforming static observation into an immersive, three-dimensional experience.

Through the exploration of five masterpieces, we will discover how bas-relief has left an indelible mark on the history of art.

The evolution of bas-relief through 5 masterpieces

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Discovering the Gothic style: a journey through European art and architecture

Cattedrale di Reims | arte gotica

I have been wanting to write a post on the Gothic style for a long time, and I have finally found the time to take you on a fascinating journey through the characteristics and most significant works of this art form that aroused wonder and admiration in the period between the 12th and 14th centuries.

Gothic is an artistic and architectural movement that left an indelible mark on the history of European art. In this article, I explain how and why Gothic art developed, what its peculiarities are from an architectural point of view, the sculptures that characterise it and the paintings that represent its essence.

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What is Baroque: what it means, when it was born, who the artists are

img arte del Seicento Barocco e Classicismo

The Italian 17th century is marked by the explosion of the Baroque, an art that exalts the theatricality of forms and the artificiality of the work that deceives the eye of the beholder with surprising inventions.
The Baroque challenges what had been the principles of the Renaissance, namely balance and measure. It was a complete renewal of art involving both painting and sculpture but also architecture, changing the face of large cities such as Rome.

Here, and I invite you to discover the true meaning of the Baroque and the artists who were the protagonists of this phenomenal season.

What is Baroque: what it means, when it was born, who the artists are

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The Fauves’ colour revolution: who they are and their origins

André Derain | Fauves

André Derain, Le phare de Collioure, Autre titre : L’église de Collioure. Paris Musées / Musée d’Art moderne de Paris
© 2023, ProLitteris, Zurich

The Fauves are revolutionaries of colour. They are the pioneers who revolutionised 20th century art. They are the ones who radically transformed the traditional conception of colour and form.
The Fauves include great 20th century artists such as Matisse and Derain, absolute masters but also rebels who subverted academic conventions and embraced the bold and pure use of colour.

In this post I take you on a discovery of the vibrant brushstrokes and bold colour contrasts of the Fauves. I present some of the extraordinary works they created and scandalised, expressing intense emotions and visual sensations. An adventurous journey into Fauve art awaits you, where colour reigns supreme and artistic freedom is expressed in all its magnificence.

The Fauves’ colour revolution: who they are and their origins

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Surrealism as an artistic movement: characteristics

Salvador Dalí | Couple aux têtes pleines de nuages

Salvador Dalí, Couple aux têtes pleines de nuages. 1936. Olio su tavola. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam. Purchase with the support of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen Foundation, the Rembrandt Association, the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, the Erasmusstichting and Stichting Bevordering van Volkskracht. Credit line photographer: Jannes Linders
© Salvador Dalí, Gala-Salvador Dalì Foundation by SIAE 2023

Surrealism as an artistic movement is fundamentally dream and irrationality.
To describe its characteristics is to delve into a territory where reason is lost in the meanders of what is not rational, generating unexplored worlds.

These are the characteristics of Surrealism.

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