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Schubert, almond blossom and Bloody Sunday

You might think that there can’t be anything that links Schubert to almond blossom and Bloody Sunday – the day 13 Irish demonstrators were shot dead in Derry. But there is. The thread that holds them all together is today’s …


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Pieter de Hooch of the Dutch Golden Age

Pieter de Hooch, baptised on this day, 20 December, in 1629, was a Dutch painter, famous principally for his depictions of the domestic life of women and children, and for his use of light. His work is related in theme …


Preventing A Case of Mistaken Identity

Preventing A Case of Mistaken Identity

Have you ever been the victim of mistaken identity? Or even identity theft? In real life, it’s bad enough. But how about if your identity was mixed up long after your death? It could easily happen, all you need is …


Caravaggio: a Murderous Artist

The personalities featured on the blog this week do nothing to debunk the idea of artists having fiery temperaments. On Tuesday, we told the tale of Baroque architect Francesco Borromini, whose bitter rivalry with fellow artist Bernini is thought to …


Art: How Much Would You Pay?

The love of art crosses boundaries, transcends social classes and costs nothing. Owning art, on the other hand, comes at a price. A high price. In some cases, a massively high price. You could buy houses, or indeed whole streets, …


Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Love… Such a grand word in so few letters. This profound emotion has played an important role in shaping our cultural and scientific heritage. It has influenced everyone from the greatest conquerors to common men, from visionary artists to ingenious …