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Alphonse Mucha Museum Alphonse Maria Mucha (1860-1939) was a Czech artist remembered for his posters created in the French Art Nouveau period. He was propelled into stardom when he was commissioned to create posters of Sarah Bernhardt, an actress who was in vogue in the late 1800s. Mucha's work is characterized by a predominance of curves and flowing lines, and abstract and stylized motifs from nature, such as flowers. At the time, there was a growing interest in decorative art and a relaxation of the Victorian attitudes. Mucha's more free and sensual style was heartily welcomed. Take a look at the beautiful works of Alphonse Mucha. These Web sites have many of his works, including some of the advertisement graphics he did for companies like Nestle foods. Web:
Art Crimes Graffiti is often referred to as "art crime" because even though it can sometimes be beautiful, it's still illegal. Take a photo-tour of art crimes around the world. Many of these places no longer exist, so this will be your only chance to see them. Web: Usenet:
Art Gallery Talk and General Discussion There are lots of things happening in the art scene, and one way to keep up is to follow what's happening in this Usenet group. When the time comes that your work is going on exhibition, you can announce it here. Usenet:
Art in Context Looking for a particular artist's work, or the location or Web site of a museum or gallery? This is the place to start. Search for whatever you want by name, discipline or genre. If you like art, this is a jumping-off place to a never-ending journey. Web: Asian Art Gallery Cure that craving for the exotic with a visit to the Asian Art Gallery. Explore an exhibit on Tibetan mandalas or a collection of Himalayan art. You will also find information and photos of art from China, India, Mongolia and more. I like to browse, from time to time, just to look at the pictures of ancient art. They provide a nice change from the overwhelming influence of the modern popular culture sea in which we spend most of our time swimming. Web: Baroque Art The Baroque movement involved European painting, sculpture and architecture, particularly in the Catholic countries, from about 1600 to 1750. Baroque style was an outgrowth of the Renaissance. The work emphasized unity and balance, and many ornate, ambitious works were created featuring detailed parts put together to form a single large composition. Among the most important Baroque artists are Caravaggio (1571-1610), Peter Rubens (1577-1640), Diego Velázquez (1599-1660), Rembrandt Van Rijn (1606-1669) and Jan Vermeer (1632-1675). Web:
Carlos Museum of Art Get your daily dose of culture by looking at images of ancient Egypt, the ancient Americas, art from Asia, Greece, Rome and sub-Saharan Africa. You will see ancient artifacts such as a cuneiform tablet, a mummy, and an engraved effigy, among others. Also available are later works on paper, such as manuscripts and scrolls. Web: Digital Photography This web site offers a display of the winners of annual juried contests of digital photography. These images began life as mere photographs or film and video and were then transformed into new art forms using a computer. Since this contest is held annually, you can also get information on how to enter your work in future events. Web:
Erté Museum Erté was an Art Deco artist born in Russia. (His original name was Romain de Tirtoff.) He moved to Paris in 1912 to become a fashion illustrator and called himself Erté, after the French pronunciation of his initials. He is best known for his extravagant costumes for ballet and the opera, as well as Harper's Bazaar illustrations. His fashion career spanned his entire life -- he designed outrageous clothing for approximately 75 years. This Web site contains a nice collection and some writing about Erté. Web:
Imagebase The Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco maintains this Web site, where you can view a large portion of their collections. Enjoy exhibits devoted to European paintings, African art, American paintings, European porcelain, European glass and ancient art. To make the experience complete, after you look at some paintings, run around the room and yell, "Clang, clang," as if you were on a cable car. Web:
Leonardo da Vinci Museum See the work of the master who put the word "Renaissance" in "Renaissance Man". Painter, inventor, architect, writer, musician and all-around genius, Leonardo is a household name in the world of art. These sites display his oil paintings, futuristic designs, drawings and sketches, and biographical information on the man who made Mona Lisa smile. Web:
Los Angeles County Museum of Art There is more to the city of Los Angeles than what you read in the National Enquirer. For instance, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art has quite a collection of beautiful artwork and interesting cultural costumes and textiles. See selected images of ancient and Islamic art, European paintings and sculpture, and art of the twentieth century as well as links to other art sites. Web: Louvre Museum Here's your chance to visit Paris free of charge. Get a ticket to the virtual Louvre, which is conducting tours around the city. You will see the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Élysées, among other sights. At the Louvre itself, they offer tours of a collection of famous paintings and a demonstration of French medieval art. You have to bring your own pastries. Web:
M.C. Escher Gallery Maurits Cornelis Escher was not only a master at paradox and illusion, but he could draw an exquisite likeness of anything he could see or imagine. Artists, mathematicians, scientists and the general consumer are all fascinated by his many graphic images on one level or another. Whether he stimulates your eye or your mind, this site will be interesting to you. Web: Museum of Web Art The Museum of Web Art (MOWA) is a Web site in the form of an art gallery. MOWA exhibits art from Web pages, such as buttons, logos, backgrounds and animation. There is also a special exhibit hall just for kids (actually, it is my favorite part of the museum). Visit MOWA right now -- you'll be surprised. Web: National Museum of American Art There is more to good American art than the Sunday newspaper comics. View not only the permanent collection of the National Museum of American Art, but also some spectacular roving collections and exhibits. Web: Pinup Art In the world of art, what could be more accessible (and more American) than the pinup, a rendering of an idealized girl-next-door, suitable for framing? A study of the pinup leads us away from philosophy, art history and symbolism, and takes us firmly into the part of the world in which "I may not know art, but I know what I like" provides the dominant framework for aesthetic appreciation. The Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, Cubists and Abstract Expressionists may all be important to our culture, but for pure, down-home enjoyment, the work of, say, Alberto Vargas (1896-1982) provides a visceral impetus that goes a long way toward hitting the lover of fine art on a gut level. After all, the wholesomeness of Betty Crocker in the kitchen may be a comforting and nurturing part of our culture, but I have to admit, I'd much rather spend an evening in the living room looking at pinups of Bettie Page. Web:
Sistine Chapel If you can't get the time off from work to go see the Sistine Chapel, take a mini-vacation right now. Use your browser to take a tour of Cappella Sistina, where you will see hundreds of images of the chapel's artwork and read informative text about the chapel and its history. Web:
Treasures of the Czars This is an excellent exhibit of art, icons, jewelry, armor and other items from the Russian Romanov dynasty. This site not only has images, but also useful historical information, fun games and a crash course on the Russian language. Even if you don't care anything about Russian art, you can still learn important phrases such as, "Grouper is the local specialty." Web:
Van Gogh Gallery Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) was a Dutch painter whose work became one of the seminal influences of twentieth century art. Van Gogh was at once immensely talented, innovative and disturbed. For example, at the end of 1888, he cut off his ear following a violent argument with the painter Paul Gauguin (1848-1903). Over the next two years, Van Gogh, suffering from bouts of madness, produced a vast number of brilliantly colored and maniacally frenzied paintings. In the last 70 days of his life, he painted 70 pictures, following which he took his own life. Van Gogh's hypersensitivity to life and sensation led him to create an oeuvre that is unmatched in the history of art. Although there is a great deal of talent, innovation and emotional disturbance in the world, it rarely comes together in the same place at the same time. Web:
Vatican Exhibit Here is a wonderful resource from the U.S. Library of Congress: an exhibition of Vatican history and culture. Here you can find a great deal of fascinating information as well as some wonderfully unexpected treasures: a fifteenth century manuscript of a Latin translation of Archimedes' mathematics, a Carolingian manuscript of the Roman comic poet Plautusy, and an original autographed Harley Hahn book used by the Pope to teach himself how to send email. Web:
World Art Treasures An art lover's fantasy: you're going through a bunch of junk at a yard sale and you find an old sculpture that turns out to be a lost treasure from the fifth century. Prepare yourself for those weekend jaunts from sale to sale. Brush up on art treasures from places such as Egypt, China, Japan, India, Burma, Laos and Thailand so you will recognize that precious gem when you find it, although these are items you will probably not find lying around your neighborhood. Web:
World Wide Art Resources There are a large number of art museums and galleries in the world, many of which have information and exhibits on the Net. These sites offer comprehensive collections of information and are definitely places to start when you are looking for a museum or gallery anywhere in the world. I like visiting these sites for two reasons. First, when I have a few minutes, they are great places to browse. I can always find a new online exhibit to explore. Second, before I travel anywhere, I check out all the museums and galleries in the area to see what looks good. Web:
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