The Doctor at Home
John Singer Sargent was one of the most celebrated portrait painters of his day, and his rise to prominence was driven partly by controversial pieces that viewers today would find...pretty tame. Many of Sargent's contemporaries, however, found them too risqué for public display.
Dr. Pozzi at Home is an intimate portrayal of Dr. Samuel Jean Pozzi, a dashing gynecologist and surgeon who, at the time, was famous in his own right.
More:
- This video, an exploration of Sargent's early artistic controversies, connects two of Sargent's most iconic works: John Singer Sargent: Madame X and Dr. Pozzi.
- Though his portraits brought him fame and fortune, Sargent eventually renounced portraiture entirely: "No More Paughtraits": Final Thoughts on Sargent: Portraits of Artists and Friends.
- After giving up portraits, Sargent devoted himself to other pursuits, like the murals commissioned by the Boston Public Library; these were also met with controversy, though of a different kind: A century ago, Sargent's 'Synagogue' painting sparked controversy in Boston.
- After his death, Singer was largely dismissed by critics, but the discovery of a series of male nudes made by Sargent throughout his life has helped lead to a reexamination his life and work: The Hidden Sargent.
Warming the Soul: The Forgotten Role of Handwarmers in Medieval Worship
By Lorris Chevalier. Medievalists.net.
A brief profile of a beautiful object that sits at the intersection of worship, art, and practical technology.
The celebrant, chilled by the cold, could have trembling hands and struggle to hold the host and the chalice. Handwarmers help prevent the priest from dropping the sacred body and blood of Christ.”
Not the most practical solution for our contemporary context, but certainly a more beautiful solution than plastic, disposable handwarmers.
VIDEO: An ancient island that used to be at the centre of the world
By Thomas Lewton and Alice McCool.
Though the island of Lamu was "forgotten by much of the world" for centuries after a competing port opened in Mombasa, it "has become a significant centre for the study of Islamic and Swahili cultures."
"Frozen in time, the island of Lamu in Kenya, was once the most important trade centre in East Africa. For Empires in the East and West, Lamu was a strategic island in the battle for global dominance."
