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A scroll through frescoes from a single room in the House of Mysteries, assumed to depict the rite of initiation for a young girl into the Dionysian Mysteries, a mystery cult. The house, located in a suburb of Pompeii, was destroyed in the volcanic explosion of 79 AD and excavated beginning in 1909. This is the type of painting that inspired Neoclassical painters like Lawrence Alma-Tadema.

"There are no words to express the result" was the beaming reaction of Belgium's Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, after a 15th-century masterpiece -- painted over shortly after completion -- was restored to its former glory. And they were right -- commentators have been left speechless by one particular aspect of the newly revealed painting. The latest panel of the "Ghent Altarpiece," a large work by Hubert and Jan van Eyck, was unveiled in December as part of an ongoing project to restore the painting to its original design. The painting -- also known as "The Adoration of the Mystic...

Bouguereau was the epitome of a French academy painter. Classically trained and meticulous in his work, he won awards and commanded high prices for his art. He painted over 600 paintings, which appear in museums around the world. Heavy on nudes, and peaceful and beautiful women and children, THIS type of art is what the Impressionists were rebelling against. Thomas Campion's poem, "The Peaceful Western Wind" is sung by Shannon Mercer.

Gu Hongzhong (AD 937–975) was a court painter for the Emperor Li Yu. His original painting no longer exists except as a 12th century copy. Han Zizai was a minister to Li Yu, and the scroll depicts one of his night revels. The five parts are: listening to the pipa, watching the dancers, resting, playing a string instrument, and seeing off guests.

A move across a 39 foot scroll painted by 18 year old Wang Ximeng (1096–1119). Wang was a prodigy, and one of the most renowned court painters of the Northern Song period, taught personally by Emperor Huizong of Song. Wang died at the age of 23 From "Wild Geese Descend on Level Sand" on Eleven Centuries of Traditional Music of China.

Painter and Poet of the Far West During the three generations since the California Argonauts who struck it rich had become its most lavish patrons of the fine arts, San Francisco is reputed to have foster-mothered more than twelve hundred artists, most of the first generation being of European birth and training. Her first gilded nabobs, with callouses still on their palms, went in for social climbing and gaudy culture. They crowned Nob Hill with gimcrack palaces and, having been told that art galleries were the thing, “blew themselves” without stint on marble statuary and very large paintings-- panoramic and...

Amherst Saxophone Quartet, Lukas Foss's Saxophone Quartet, Introduction and Canon. This will definitely NOT be for everyone. But if you enjoy modern art, it might be. And if the music doesn't work for you, try muting it and enjoying a 5 min Art History course in Early 20th Century Artists: Picasso, Goncharova, Braque, Metzinger, Gris, Malevich, Leger, Picabia, Boccioni, Gleizes, Kandinsky, Delaunay and Mondrian.

For nwrep, per request. Roughly chronological, for the art history enthusiasts among us. Note the brightening colors by the end of his body of work. Music is from the 4th movement of The New World Symphony by Dvorak. Smetana Von Karajan, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

A rich French woman abandoned this apartment in 1942. What they found inside is incredible.

LAST SUMMER while driving home to Texas after participating in the first annual Artistic Horizons show in Bozeman, MT, Denise LaRue Mahlke swung through Yellowstone National Park. “One of the things that grabbed me there were the geyser pools,” she recalls. “They were infatuating to me. It was magical how they all looked so different. Some were like mud pots in opaque greens or reds. Others were clear, giant pools that looked incredibly deep and almost iridescent in shades of emerald and sapphire. One reminded me of a peacock feather. I could have stood and stared at them for hours,...

In the last years of his life Maynard Dixon (1875-1946) built a log and stone cabin in the high arid country of Southern Utah with his artist wife Edith Hamlin Dixon. Now in 2010, the home and property have been restored and the last week of August has been dedicated for the Maynard Dixon Country Event. This year will mark the twelfth celebration where 32 nationally known artists are invited to participate in the painting excursions, exhibition, sale and awards ceremony. This year, noted contemporary artist Clyde Aspevig will be the guest of honor and will give a presentation on...

He sulked, he squirmed, he dickered over language. But after months of post-plea stalling and fidgeting, Upper East Side art gallery giant Lawrence Salander was finally sentenced today to serve at least six years behind bars for a massive, decade-long, $120 million fraud scheme. Salander, 60, was cuffed and carted off to prison in punishment for soaking a roster of 29 wealthy friends and investors, including John McEnroe, Robert De Niro, and some of the East Coast art world's biggest investors and owners. Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/art_swindler_lawrence_salander_sentenced_hhs091vVUTu8H3Y3KXF3KN#ixzz0vkzNAnNd

PARIS (AP) -- A thief stole five paintings possibly worth hundreds of millions of euros, including major works by Picasso and Matisse, in a brazen overnight heist at a Paris modern art museum, police and prosecutors said Thursday. The paintings disappeared early Thursday from the Paris Museum of Modern Art, across the Seine River from the Eiffel Tower in one of the French capital's most chic and tourist-frequented neighborhoods.

NEW YORK - The world knows a lot more about Bar Refaeli today than it did yesterday, including where her tiny tan line falls. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit unveiled the 23-year-old Israeli, who has been romantically linked to Leonardo DiCaprio, as a first-time cover girl on Tuesday. This gig, more than top fashion or entertainment magazines, can be career-altering as it puts a model's face (not to mention, her fantastically toned body) in front of millions of eyeballs, appealing to both men and women, sports fans and fashionistas. It's the cover that matters most, says SI group editor Terry McDonell, but...

Nearly everyone cares—or says he cares—about art. After all, art ennobles the spirit, ­elevates the mind, and educates the emotions. Or does it? In fact, tremendous irony attends our culture’s continuing investment—emotional, financial, and social—in art. We behave as if art were something special, something important, something spiritually refreshing; but, when we canvas the roster of distinguished artists today, what we generally find is far from spiritual, and certainly far from refreshing. It is a curious situation. Traditionally, the goal of fine art was to make beautiful objects. The idea of beauty came with a lot of Platonic and Christian...

We have had several threads on music and food but not art I thought tonight we could discuss what works of art you enjoy. Art can be very subjective what some people love other hate, what some consider a scribble a daub on a paper other consider a masterpiece. Then there are certain pieces of art that are universally accepted and admired. What are your favourite works of art or type of art? Maybe it is a sculpture or some fine art? On the other hand maybe architecture is your bent? Tonight's questions What is your favourite painting? What is...

I was shopping at Goodwill (don't ask) and found a painting (watercolor) that was very nicely framed and matted. I needed a new painting for my wall but didn't want some cheap print - so I examined it to see if there were 'dots' from the printing process and there were none. I was confident this was a hand-crafted work. As I was examining it a woman approached me - she had been looking at it and wondered whether it was original as well. I told her what I knew and she then informed me there was a second painting...

Wales' foremost artist, Sir Kyffin Williams, has launched an attack on the art on show at the National Eisteddfod. Royal Academician Sir Kyffin, who says his cancer treatment is going well, claims work on display at Faenol near Bangor, bears no relation to fine art. He said "solid Welsh people" at the cultural festival would be turned away by what they saw. But both the eisteddfod and its partner the Arts Council of Wales defended the festival's artworks. Sir Kyffin, who is 87, has been fighting both lung and prostate cancer and has only recently been able to resume drawing...

LONDON (Hollywood Reporter) - The scatological and obscenity filled "Jerry Springer -- The Opera" won four honors including best new musical at the 28th Laurence Olivier awards on Sunday. Based on Jerry Springer's notorious television talk show, the production has music by Richard Thomas and book and lyrics by Thomas and Stewart Lee. It also landed awards for David Bedella as best actor in a musical; for the chorus of the show as best supporting performance in a musical; and for Mike Walker, best sound. The "Springer" production was developed at the National Theater and is now running at the...