art history

What Will ‘The Scream’ Look Like in 300 Years? This Tool Simulates Its Future

The tool remains an interesting proof of concept, but it could expand into something genuinely useful for researchers and conservators.

Physics & Chemistry Gayoung Lee Mar 19

Was Jesus Really Wrapped in the Shroud of Turin? 3D Study Says Probably Not

In a simulation, a bas-relief pressed into digital fabric produced an imprint that resembled the Shroud of Turin more closely than the imprint of a fully 3D human body.

Human History Margherita Bassi Aug 5

Watch a Reconstructed 250-Year-Old Robotic Painting Bring a Fiery Mount Vesuvius Back to Life

An 18th-century British ambassador to Italy was so fascinated by volcanoes that he designed a multimedia device to make watercolor lava seem like it's moving.

Human History Margherita Bassi Jul 30

A reconstruction of the Baronci Altarpiece by Raphael, showing the two recently AI-investigated works.

X-Rays and AI Reveal Lost Details in Famous Raphael Paintings

Two panels by the High Renaissance artist just got the AI treatment, revealing the chemical composition of the works, which could help art conservation.

Artificial Intelligence Isaac Schultz Sep 25

American Ship Lost in 1859 Likely Rediscovered on Argentinian Beach

The remains of a whaling ship called the Dolphin appear to have been found nearly 6,000 miles from home.

Human History Isaac Schultz Aug 26

A Hidden Figure in a Famous Rembrandt Has Been Uncovered Using X-Rays

Rembrandt’s An Old Man in Military Costume is a 380-year-old masterpiece with a secret. Beneath the famous figure in the feathered cap hides a much younger man, one that researchers are uncovering in color using advanced x-ray technology. Scientists first caught whiff of the hidden figure when scanning the painting with x-rays in 1968. But…

Tech News Maddie Stone Sep 1

These Skirts Call to All Art History Lovers

These are a great bargain for any art lover: $65 for ant one of seven designs printed on skirts, available by Retrofolie. Perfectly beautiful. See more below. There are two Klimts, three Muchas, a van Gogh, a Millais, and a Boucher. I want all of them to go with my vast array of black t-shirts.

io9 Katharine Trendacosta Feb 26

The Greatest Werewolf Art Of The Middle Ages And Renaissance

While they weren’t always depicted as shirtless teen heartthrobs, creatures who turn from human into wolf (and vice versa) appear in tales dating back to antiquity. So throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, artists have had plenty of strange and creepy stories to inform their werewolf illustrations. A priest administering last rites to the…

io9 Vincze Miklós Oct 30

The Fonts That Come With Your Computer Are Older Than You Ever Thought

While you may take for granted the basic pack of fonts that came with your word processing software, someone had to invent each and every one of those fonts. And while some common fonts were invented after the advent of the computer, others are centuries old. Above: An example of the memetic use of Impact,…

io9 Vincze Miklós Sep 9

Syria’s “Monuments Men” Are Trying to Save History Amidst ISIS Chaos

Roman ruins. Byzantine villages. Umayyad architecture. The relics of the Hittites, Assyrians, Arabs, Mongols, Mamelukes, and Ottomans. Syria has some of the most remarkable cultural history in the world—and now,National Geographic reportsthat Syrians are using archaeological first aid to save it. In a report from Andrew Curry today, we learn that a coalition of preservationists…

Tech News Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan Sep 3

These Secret Artistic Masterpieces Were Hidden Beneath Other Paintings

Over the centuries, it has been common to reuse canvases and paint over murals, meaning that many great works of art have been lost between layers of paint. Fortunately, modern technology and notes on the originals lets us see those hidden masterpieces once again. The Battle of Anghiari, by Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519), painted in…

io9 Vincze Miklós Aug 26

There’s A Spelling Error In One Of White House’s Most Famous Paintings

In the largest room in the White House hangs an iconic full-body portrait of George Washington renouncing a third term as president of the United States. There is a small but obvious spelling error contained within the portrait—and it’s actually there for a very specific reason. Top image via Wikimedia Commons. The portrait of Washington…

io9 Lauren Davis Aug 15

World’s Oldest Anatomical Model Skull May Be Leonardo Da Vinci’s Work

This centuries old, one-third scale anatomical model of a human skull was sculpted by hand and contains remarkable detail. And research suggests that it maybe be a previously undiscovered work made by none other than Leonardo Da Vinci. Photo copyright Dr. K. Becker, used with permission. Stefaan Missinne published his research about this skull sculpture…

io9 Lauren Davis Jun 13

You Could Learn Art History From These Amazing Manicures

These nails are sporting an unmistakable dose of Basquiat with a smattering of Warhol. It’s not a rendering—it’s real, hand-painted nail art, taken from Nail Art History, a brand new Tumblr that showcases some very impressive manicures based rather accurately on real works of modern art. Sure, nail art is on-trend right now, but forget…

Tech News Leslie Horn Mar 19

Listen to the Butt Song from Hell written on a 500-year-old painting

One section of Hieronymus Bosch’s massive triptych The Garden of Earthly Delights depicts a hellish chorus singing a song painted on the buttocks of a sinner. Now a musician has transcribed it into modern notation for our asinine listening pleasure. Amelia, a music and information systems student at Oklahoma Christian University, decided to figure out…

io9 Lauren Davis Feb 14

Astronomers know when Monet made this painting — to the very minute

Back in the late 19th century, impressionist artist Claude Monet captured this striking sunset on the Normandy Coast. Now, thanks to the work of forensic astronomers, we known the precise moment it happened: February 5th, 1883 — at exactly 4:53 PM. Art historians know that Monet visited this stretch of the Normandy coast, called Étretat,…

io9 George Dvorsky Jan 24

Michelangelo’s illustrated grocery list is a work of everyday art

While we’re used to seeing Michelangelo’s majestic finished paintings, this shopping list gives us a look at the master’s more hasty and practical drawing. This is an illustrated list that Michelangelo would have given to an illiterate servant. Steve Duin at The Oregonian explained the purpose of the list while it was on display at…

io9 Lauren Davis Dec 28

Artistic Masterpieces That Have Been Stolen, Destroyed or Lost

Just because something is a great work of art doesn’t make it immune to the hazards of war and the fingers of thieves. Pictured here are some of the greatest artworks that we’ve lost over the past century. Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints John the Baptist and Nicholas and Angels, by Lorenzo Monaco, 1402.…

io9 Vincze Miklós Oct 2

Wormholes reveal what was destroying art 500 years ago

Wormholes — made by actual worms in wood, not gravitational forces in space — are a key to the past. These holes are where beetles lay their young, in trees, furniture, and even great works of art.. And now scientists say the wormholes in ancient paintings reveal the movements of insect species hundreds of years…

io9 Tim Barribeau Nov 23

Behold, the divine baby walker of Jesus Christ

Here’s a new relic for all you amateur Indiana Joneses to instigate Nepalese bar brawls over. Explains the University of California of this odd 1440 tableau, it’s “from the Book of Hours of Catherine of Clèves, containing the prayers and litanies of the Mass in Latin, decorated with 157 lavishly colored and gilded illuminations by…

io9 Cyriaque Lamar Oct 23

art history

What Will ‘The Scream’ Look Like in 300 Years? This Tool Simulates Its Future

Was Jesus Really Wrapped in the Shroud of Turin? 3D Study Says Probably Not

Watch a Reconstructed 250-Year-Old Robotic Painting Bring a Fiery Mount Vesuvius Back to Life

X-Rays and AI Reveal Lost Details in Famous Raphael Paintings

American Ship Lost in 1859 Likely Rediscovered on Argentinian Beach

A Hidden Figure in a Famous Rembrandt Has Been Uncovered Using X-Rays

These Skirts Call to All Art History Lovers

The Greatest Werewolf Art Of The Middle Ages And Renaissance

The Fonts That Come With Your Computer Are Older Than You Ever Thought

Syria’s “Monuments Men” Are Trying to Save History Amidst ISIS Chaos

These Secret Artistic Masterpieces Were Hidden Beneath Other Paintings

There’s A Spelling Error In One Of White House’s Most Famous Paintings

World’s Oldest Anatomical Model Skull May Be Leonardo Da Vinci’s Work

You Could Learn Art History From These Amazing Manicures

Listen to the Butt Song from Hell written on a 500-year-old painting

Astronomers know when Monet made this painting — to the very minute

Michelangelo’s illustrated grocery list is a work of everyday art

Artistic Masterpieces That Have Been Stolen, Destroyed or Lost

Wormholes reveal what was destroying art 500 years ago

Behold, the divine baby walker of Jesus Christ

Two Songs We Really Wish Were the Anime Outros for ‘Steel Ball Run’

AI Training Data Giant Mercor Is Reportedly Looking to Buy the Work You Did at Your Old Job

Utah Is Giving Dr. AI the Power to Renew Drug Prescriptions

Here’s the Perfect Excuse to See ‘Project Hail Mary’ Again

US Airlines Are Hiking Bag Fees Amid Iran War Oil Crisis

This Ridiculously Simple Trick Might Stop Gulls From Nabbing Your Lunch

‘Starfleet Academy’ Season 3 Could Have Done the ‘Voyager’ Sequel Episode of Robert Picardo’s Dreams

Judge Kills Lawsuit Against Infamous Study That Might Have Increased Teen Suicides

AirPods Max 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones Win?

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AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

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MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

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