Who is this and what was the inspiration?
The woman in this image is Katz's wife and longtime muse, Ada. He has used Ada as his subject countless times! The flat colors with highly patterned sections may remind you of Japanese woodblock prints. That's no accident. Katz was inspired by these qualities in the work of Kitagawa Utamaro, who also created prints of women sheltering themselves from the rain using umbrellas.
Why is the butt like that?
This pose is based on a pose that real dogs and cats sometimes assume!
This sculpture was likely part of a pair and served a decorative purpose in a formal part of an elite home in Edo period Japan.
Dis baby high?
Many people do describe babies as "high" after they've had a lot of breast milk!
One of the innovations later in the the Italian Renaissance was that more and more artists were looking at real babies to sketch and paint them resulting in more realistic babies.
What type of fruit is depicted?
The fruits surrounding the Virgin may include Mediterranean species like lemons, other citrus fruits, and peaches.
Joseph Stella was born in Italy, emigrated to the United States as a young man, and studied art in New York.
Why are the eyes hollow?
We're not sure, but one theory is that it is meant as a reference to ancient sculptures which often have hollow eyes where the inlays were removed. Rodin often took inspiration from ancient sculpture including the ways that damage would change the overall effect.
What did this dish serve?
It was used to serve sweetmeats, which were typically candied fruit or nuts. It could also be used to serve pickles. The Bow factory kept sea shells in their studio to serve as models for the sculptors to use!
The notes on this tunic with mythological motifs says woad was the early blue dye in Egypt. Do you know when it came to the region?
I am not sure when the Egyptians started using woad/indigo. There is evidence of indigo dye on textiles found in Egyptian tombs dating as early as the Old Kingdom period which began around 2500 BCE. Most Egyptian textiles from earlier times do not survive. You may have noticed that the date on this tunic is quite late compared to ancient Egypt.
Wow that so long ago, thanks!
Can you tell me broadly how American Rococo differed from the French style that I usually associate with that word?
The main difference here is time.This bed is in the Rococo Revival style which was a style popular in America in the mid-19th century. Anything French was fashionable at this time, especially designs made in the Rococo Louis XV style from the mid-18th century. One difference is that French Rococo furniture was often asymmetrical, which is less common in Rococo Revival. Another difference is the materials and techniques used to construct the piece. The Belter bed used special modern tools to bend expensive wood veneers over a cheaper carcass. True Rococo furniture was typically solid wood and hand-carved.
Did they ever seal the sarcophagus to keep the colors so bright?
The ancient Egyptians often did use beeswax to seal in the pigment on coffins like this. Also the Egyptian climate and the dark of the tomb significantly contributed to the preservation of the colors.
What was this used for?
This urn was meant for hot water, just like one you might see at a meeting today! Moving the green handle opened the spigot and you could pour water into your cup for tea.
