Art and Culture
Ultramarine: The Blue That Could Cost More Than Gold
For centuries, Europe’s most prized blue came chiefly from lapis lazuli mined in Badakhshan. At times, the finest ultramarine cost more than gold and was reserved for the most…
Renaissance art and architecture
The Renaissance transformed images, buildings and the ways patrons expressed ambition. This collection connects the rivalries of Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael with the history of ultramarine, museum collections, gardens and palaces.
Articles in this collection
6
Art and Culture
Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael: Genius and Rivalry in Renaissance Rome
For roughly three years, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael were active in Renaissance Rome at the same time. They were not friends: admiration, influence, rivalry, and…
Italy
Villa di Castello: A Medici Garden of Power in the Hills of Florence
A Renaissance landscape of myth, engineering, and political ambition still shapes Tuscany’s cultural identity
Art and Culture
The Vatican Museums: A Journey Through Art and History
The Vatican Museums house one of the greatest art collections in the world, offering visitors a journey through centuries of faith, beauty, and human genius.
Historical Sites
Explore the Sumptuous Chambers of the Royal Palace: A Renaissance Jewel of Naples
Naples’ Royal Palace stands as a testament to centuries of royal ambition and Neapolitan artistry, blending Spanish, Bourbon, and Italian heritage.
Historical Sites
Explore Schwerin Castle: A Marvel of Renaissance and Baroque Architecture in Germany
Schwerin Castle, rising from an island in northern Germany, blends fairytale elegance with centuries of political history and artistic refinement.