“Come now, said Socrates, tell us again, Antisthenes, how you pride yourself on wealth despite such a humble estate.” “For I believe, people, that wealth and poverty are not in the house, but in the soul! I see many who, despite having great wealth, consider themselves so poor that they accept any effort and danger … Read more
The Iranian Treasury of National Jewels is one of the world’s largest collections of precious gemstones available for public viewing. It is a collection of crown jewels of Iranian rulers, gathered over the past five centuries, reminiscent in its scope of treasures described in legends and fairy tales like Arabian Nights. It is now housed … Read more
It was the middle of spring, nightingales were singing from the treetops. Roses bathed in pearly dew resembled the rosy cheeks of an angry dragon. Once darkness caught me in the garden, in the company of a friend of mine. The place was enchanting, tree branches intertwined; it seemed as if the earth was adorned … Read more
The works of one of the last pre-Raphaelites impress not only with their rich variety, as they include painting, tapestry, and stained glass, but also with their unique, mysterious beauty. Born in the industrial city of Birmingham, Burne-Jones witnessed the strong development of 19th-century Britain, its heavy industry, and flourishing materialism. His response to this … Read more
Only a human can appreciate symbols and see with inner eyes what outwardly stirs within them. The ability of imagination enables a person to ascend to levels of reality that range from the visible to the invisible, from the superficial to the essential, and to connect, by analogy, things of this world, revealing the small … Read more
Monasteries in Tibet and India safeguard highly valuable illuminated manuscripts of sacred texts from Buddhist and Hindu traditions. Me from rural and courtly life with scenes characteristic of certain months in the year (sowing, harvesting, etc). A Greek manuscript from the 14th century, entirely executed in the Byzantine style, describes scenes from the Life of … Read more
Unfortunately, in a large part of society today, aesthetic sensitivity has been reduced to something secondary and insignificant. This presence is so strong that a materialistically inclined individual will, blinded by their own ignorance, not notice the beauty expressed in an artwork, nor the message contained within it, but instead its market value, or the … Read more
Art represents an exciting world to contemplate, with a plethora of nuances, suggestive and simultaneously profound, yet due to its nature, this world is difficult to grasp from a rational and logical perspective. What to say to someone who excitedly observes the work of the sculptor Antonio Canova, elevated by the sound of a flute … Read more
An artist knows that beauty creates an atmosphere that contributes to elevating a person from an animal state to a humane being. However, the beauty of form must not be empty, hollow, as the power of beauty can be used for seduction, for masking weaknesses or corruption of character in a world that only indulges … Read more
Around two hundred and eighty caves with several thousand painted scenes have been discovered in Europe so far, with the oldest ones, such as those found in El Conde, La Vina, and Cueto de la Mina in Spain, provoking the greatest admiration. The largest of them is the Rouffignac Cave in France, whose network of … Read more
