Where Art Meets Story

Our growing archive of stories on art, design, and culture.

  • Biography: Charles Conder

    Biography: Charles Conder

    Charles Conder, an Australian-born painter and etcher, was born on October 24, 1868, in Tottenham, Middlesex, England. He emerged as one of the leading figures of the Australian Heidelberg School and played…

  • Inspiration: “La Mujer del Guante,” by Edouard Agneessens

    Inspiration: “La Mujer del Guante,” by Edouard Agneessens

    Edouard Agneessens (24 August 1842, Brussels – 20 August 1885, Uccle) was a Belgian painter born in Brussels. He studied under Jean-François Portaels from 1859 at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, and in 1869 won the Prix de Rome. In 1868, he was one…

  • 20 Ancient Murals: Incredible Stories from the Past

    20 Ancient Murals: Incredible Stories from the Past

    If walls could talk, ancient murals would probably tell some of the most captivating stories humanity has ever heard. These vivid depictions of life, mythology, and history offer an incredible glimpse into…

  • Biography: Gheorghe Petrașcu

    Biography: Gheorghe Petrașcu

    Gheorghe Petrașcu (1872–1949), a Romanian painter and one of the pioneers of modern Romanian art, left an indelible mark on the country’s cultural landscape. Born on February 22, 1872, in Bucharest, Romania,…

  • Inspiration: Portrait of a Girl by Helena Schjerfbeck

    Inspiration: Portrait of a Girl by Helena Schjerfbeck

    In Paris, Schjerfbeck painted with Helena Westermarck, then left to study with Léon Bonnat at Mme Trélat de Vigny’s studio. In 1881 she moved to the Académie Colarossi, where she studied once again with Westermarck.…

  • Biography: James Nairn

    Biography: James Nairn

    James Nairn, a significant figure in the art scene of New Zealand, was born on February 28, 1859, in Dunedin. As a pioneering artist, Nairn played a crucial role in the development…

  • Biography: Jules Joseph Lefebvre

    Biography: Jules Joseph Lefebvre

    Jules Joseph Lefebvre was a renowned French academic painter of the 19th century, known for his exceptional skill in portrait and figurative painting. He was born on March 14, 1836, in Tournan-en-Brie,…

  • Love Story: John Everett Millais and Effie Gray

    When love and art intertwine, the result can be both beautiful and tumultuous. One of the most intriguing stories from the 19th century that captures this blend is the relationship between the…