A big naked guy is shown sitting around with a bunch of lions in Rubens' over-the-top painting. Meet Daniel, a favorite counselor to the Persian king Darius. Daniel has made some powerful enemies which is how he got here. We’ll find out who ends up being the lions’ breakfast and how paintings like this allowed Rubens to become a successful diplomat.

We’ll also hear about how a painting the owners thought was just a copy and maintenance headache became one of the most highly praised pieces in the Gallery’s collection.

See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/daniel-in-the-lions-den-by-sir-peter-paul-rubens/

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is Fugue in G minor, “Little”, BWV 578, composed by Johann Sebastian Bach and performed by the Skidmore College Orchestra. Courtesy of musopen.org

Sir Peter Paul Rubens information https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1847.html

Daniel in the Lions’ Den information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.50298.html#overview

National Zoo Lion Cam

Reviewing Committee information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reviewing_Committee_on_the_Export_of_Works_of_Art

Slow Art Day

Master of Shadows: The Secret Diplomatic Career of the Painter Peter Paul Rubens by Mark Lamster

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“Ghost,” the ambitious sculpture by Rachel Whiteread tells a story of family, memory, impending loss and survival.

We’ll find out the mind-blowing idea behind it, the tenacity of a young artist and its connection to a rock legend.

“Ghost” is part of a survey of Whiteread’s work at the Gallery which runs through January 13, 2019.

See the artwork at https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.131285.html

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas.

Episode theme is “Sad Ambient Piano” by AShamaluevMusic. Courtesy of Soundcloud.

Ghost information Molly Donovan/Rachel Whiteread’s Vies Trouvées (Found Lives) (accessed Oct 20, 2018).

Rachel Whiteread: “Ghost” (video)

Bronze casting (video) Courtesy of the Khan Academy

Slow Art Day

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Just like the Annunciation I talked about a while ago, there’s a lot going on in this scene portraying the birth of the Virgin Mary. This stunning panel is one of a trio showing events from the lives of Anna and Joachim, the parents of the Virgin Mary. We’ll find out the surprising way their struggle with infertility ended and how di Bartolo used small touches to turn this religious scene into something wonderfully warm and very human.

And there’s a mystery here! The catalog says this was very likely part of a large altarpiece and that several panels are missing! Click here to see what it might have looked like.

Also check out this video to see how these kinds of panels were created and how artists painted with gold!

See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/the-nativity-of-the-virgin-andrea-di-bartolo/

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is Medieval March in D minor by Manel Fera. Courtesy of Soundcloud

Nativity of the Virgin information Miklós Boskovits (1935–2011), “Andrea di Bartolo/The Nativity of the Virgin/c. 1400/1405,” Italian Paintings of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries, NGA Online Editions.

Altarpiece Reconstruction https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.183.html#supp-altarpiece_reconstruction

Andrea diBartolo information https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.91.html

Gold-Ground Panel Painting  courtesy of the Khan Academy (video)

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

The post The Nativity of the Virgin – Andrea di Bartolo appeared first on A Long Look.

John Singer Sargent was famous for his high society portraits set in elegant rooms like this. Find out why he gave up what he called “a pimp’s profession” and began painting just for his own pleasure, doing landscapes and scenes of his family. His niece Rose-Marie, pictured here, became one of his favorite subjects.

Painted just before World War I, we also find out what happened to them after this peaceful afternoon.

See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/nonchaloir-repose-john-singer-sargent/

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is 3 Pieces composed by Lili Boulanger performed by  Pandora Selfridge. Courtesy of musopen.org

Nonchaloir (Repose) information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.35080.html

https://www.nga.gov/audio-video/audio/repose-nonchaloir-sargent.html

John Singer Sargent information https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1858.html

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

A Catalogue of the Collection of American Paintings in the Corcoran Gallery of Art: Volume 2, Painters Born from 1850 to 1910 (PDF 9.8 MB)

American Paintings of the Nineteenth Century, Part II (PDF 91.2 MB)

John Singer Sargent and His Muse by Karen Corsano and Daniel Williman

The post Nonchaloir (Repose) – John Singer Sargent appeared first on A Long Look.

This evening scene celebrates the peace and prosperity the Dutch were finally enjoying after 80 years of war with Spain. But don’t be fooled by its bucolic vibe. The backstory of its ownership is something straight out of Indiana Jones.

We’ll find out why the cow is a Dutch icon and the clever way one family screwed with the Nazis to keep this out of their hands.

See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/river-landscape-with-cows-aelbert-cuyp/

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is Sonata No. 15 in D Major Pastoral, Op. 28 – I. Allegro composed by Ludwig van Beethoven performed by Paul Pitman. Courtesy of musopen.org

River Landscape with Cows information Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., “Aelbert Cuyp/River Landscape with Cows/1645/1650,” Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century, NGA Online Editions (accessed August 27, 2018).

A Painting’s History: Cuyp’s River Landscape with Cows (video)

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

Paintings in the Dutch Golden Age (PDF)

The Embarrassment of Riches by Simon Schama

The post River Landscape with Cows – Aelbert Cuyp appeared first on A Long Look.

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's enormous, dramatic painting  focuses on the emotional homecoming in the Biblical story of “The Prodigal Son” in which youth and money make a bad combination.

Murillo painted this as one of eight paintings for a charitable hospital in Seville and we’ll find how the king of Spain’s top official tried to “borrow” it to place in a royal museum. We’ll also discover its connection to Napoleon Bonaparte and a guy nicknamed “Joey Bottles.”

See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/the-return-of-the-prodigal-son-bartolome-esteban-murillo/

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is “Adagio in G minor” composed by Tomaso Albinoni/Remo Giazotto and performed by Noh Donghwan. Courtesy of musopen.org

The Prodigal Son information https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.34956.html   

“Joey Bottles” article https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/nyregion/new-jersey/26bonapartenj.html

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

Spanish Paintings of the Fifteenth through Nineteenth Centuries (PDF)

The post The Return of the Prodigal Son – Bartolomé Esteban Murillo appeared first on A Long Look.

Welcome back for Season 2! I’m starting off with one of the Gallery’s greatest hits, the portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci by Leonardo da Vinci. It’s the only painting by Leonardo in America!

We’ll explore this unusual two-sided work, find out the story behind the strange combination of plants on the back and even learn a little Latin. I’ll also tell you where you can find Leonardo’s fingerprint!

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is “Galliard, Parthenia XIII (For Bassoon and Harp – Feller-Rønnes)” composed by John Bull. Performed by Mac Playback Harp. https://musopen.org/music/31808-galliard-parthenia-xiii/

Ginevra de’ Benci information https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/da-vinci-ginevra-de-benci.html

https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.50724.html#relatedpages

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

Virtue and Beauty: Leonardo’s Ginevra de’ Benci and Renaissance Portraits of Women (PDF)

The post Portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci by Leonardo da Vinci appeared first on A Long Look.

Hey everybody, I just wanted to let you know I’m hard at work on Season 2! We’re going to start off with one of the Gallery’s greatest hits, the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in America.

The new season will start in August, so you can listen at the beach, at the pool or that great waterfront bar you like so much! And don’t forget to download episodes to your device so you can listen in the air, on the train or on the road.

In the meantime, check out any episodes you might’ve missed and if you’re in DC go visit the Gallery! They have a lot of great exhibits and there’s an Ingmar Bergman film program running through Sept. 3. You can find more info at www.nga.gov.

The post Hiatus Update from Karen appeared first on A Long Look.

So we’ve reached the end of Season 1! The show will go on hiatus while I review, assess and prep for Season 2. I hope you’ve been enjoying the show and maybe even tried some long looking yourself.

Thanks to all of you who’ve taken time to listen and subscribe, I appreciate your support. I’ll be posting updates here, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, you can catch up on any episodes you missed and maybe even go visit the Gallery! They have a lot of great exhibits going on as well as their wonderful permanent collection.

Thanks for joining me!

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

National Gallery information www.nga.gov

The post 12 End of Season 1 appeared first on A Long Look.

Joseph Mallord William Turner was quite a painter and quite a character. He’s described as vulgar, uncouth, unsophisticated and cheap. And yet, he became one of England’s most beloved artists through his groundbreaking vision and skill.

We’ll see how his interest in the Industrial Revolution and love of the natural world come together in this dazzling image and take a look at how he created something so gorgeous yet ominous.

See the artwork at https://alonglookpodcast.com/11-keelmen-heaving-in-coals-by-moonlight-turner/

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is “The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave), Op. 26” by Felix Mendelssohn https://musopen.org/music/306-the-hebrides-fingals-cave-op-26/

Turner information https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/turner-keelmen-heaving-in-coals-by-moonlight.html

https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.1225.html#overview

The post 11 Keelmen Heaving in Coals by Moonlight – Turner appeared first on A Long Look.