Art of History

Witchcraft has captivated the imagination of society for centuries, and is today viewed as an enigmatic symbol of limitless power and feminine agency. But this wasn’t always the case. Through art, we can track how witches, once considered monstrous agents of the devil, have been recast as complex figures of mystery, strength, and even allure.

Today's Images: Martin Schongauer, ‘The Temptation of St. Anthony’ (c. 1470); Hans Baldung Grien, ‘The Sorceress’ (1510);  Francisco Goya, 'Witches’ Flight' (1798); Luis Ricardo Falero, 'Witches Going to Their Sabbath' (1878); and Albert Joseph Pénot, 'The Bat Woman' (1890).

______

Substack: https://mattaoffact.substack.com/p/off-with-her-head-anne-boleyn

______

New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast

The story behind John Singer Sargent’s iconic painting, Portrait of Madame X, rarely focuses on on the life of its subject, Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau. A prominent Parisian socialite known for her striking beauty, Amélie's story before and after Sargent's portrait speaks volumes about attitudes towards women in the elite circles of Belle Époque Paris.

Today's artwork: John Singer Sargent, Portrait of Madame X (1884). Oil on Canvas. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

____________

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ARTHISTORY and take a step toward a more fulfilled, more curious you.

____________

New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!

Subscribe to my newsletter, The Fascinator.

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast

George Washington was many things: general, president, family man, and slaveholder. This giant of American history had a complex relationship with the enslaved—and often invisible—laborers who made his achievements possible. But through the art historical record, we can catch glimpses of these individuals and discover how they impacted Washington's life...and legacy.

Today's image: John Trumbull, George Washington (1780). Oil on Canvas. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

______

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ARTHISTORY and get on your way to being your best self.

______

New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast

TikTok: @artofhistorypod | @matta_of_fact

Artist and illustrator J.C. Leyendecker (1874-1951) helped shape modern American visual culture as the mind behind advertising campaigns like the legendary “Arrow Collar Man.” He was also responsible for countless covers for the Saturday Evening Post—one more, in fact, than Norman Rockwell. 

Modern biographers also hold that Leyendecker was a gay man. Critics are now asking themselves whether his sexuality permeated into some of his most iconic commercial illustrations. 

Today's Image: J.C. Leyendecker, “Record Time, Cool Summer Comfort,” (advertisement for Kuppenheimer menswear) (c. 1920). Oil on canvas. National Museum of American Illustration, Newport.

______

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ARTHISTORY and get on your way to being your best self.

______

New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!

Subscribe to my newsletter, The Fascinator.

Email: [email protected]

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/matta_of_fact

Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast

TikTok: @artofhistorypod | @matta_of_fact

I'm on vacation, and I hope you'll get some time away soon, too! Our featured podcast today is one that you'll 100% want to listen to on your summer travels: History Daily. 

Each weekday on History Daily, host Lindsay Graham (not the senator) takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened ‘on this day’ in history. History Daily is there to tell you the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world—one day at a time.

So if you’re stuck in traffic, bored at work—wherever you are, listen to History Daily to remind yourself that something incredible happened to make that day historic. A co-production from award-winning podcasters Airship and Noiser.

Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The internet has been ablaze with hot takes on King Charles III's brand-new royal portrait by British artist Jonathan Yeo. Does it depict a strong, capable monarch? Or one who is overshadowed by the chaotic state of his institution and modern world?

______

New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!

Subscribe to my newsletter, The Fascinator.

Email: [email protected]

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/matta_of_fact

Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast

TikTok: @artofhistorypod | @matta_of_fact

Adélaïde Labille-Guiard (1749–1803) rose from shopkeeper’s daughter to an official portraitist of the French royal court—only to have her achievements reduced to ash by the Revolution. While she defied societal barriers to build a remarkable artistic career, Adélaïde's legacy was long overshadowed by celebrated portraitist and memoirist Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun.

Today, we’re joined by Bridget Quinn, author of the first (!!) full biography of the trailblazing artist: Portrait of a Woman: Art, Rivalry, and Revolution in the Life of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard. Quinn offers a fascinating new perspective on the layers of Adélaïde’s life—and her work. We discuss her life, her feminism, her sexuality, and her alleged “feud” with Vigée-Lebrun.

Pick up a copy of Portrait of a Woman here.

______

New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!

Listen to me on Lady Audaci-TEA: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

Subscribe to my newsletter, The Fascinator.

Email: [email protected]

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/matta_of_fact

Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast

TikTok: @artofhistorypod | @matta_of_fact

The Chevalier d'Éon (1728–1810) is known as a transgender icon, living the first half of their life as a man, and the second as a woman. Theirs is also a life that is remarkably documented in contemporary artwork. But how much can we conclusively determine about how the Chevalier viewed themselves from their portraits?

Today's Image(s): Alexandre-Auguste Robineau, The Fencing-Match between the Chevalier de Saint-George and the Chevalier d'Éon (c. 1787-9). Oil on canvas. Royal Collection Trust.

And: Thomas Stewart, Chevalier d'Éon, after Jean-Laurent Mosnier (1792). National Portrait Gallery.

______

New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!

Email: [email protected]

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/matta_of_fact

Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast

TikTok: @artofhistorypod // @matta_of_fact

How did the daughter of an African ruler become goddaughter to Queen Victoria? A young black girl named Aina, later called Sarah Forbes Bonetta (1843–1880), began life in West Africa. But she would grow up to become a popular member of Victorian royal circles.

Today's Image: Hannah Uzor, Aina, Sarah Forbes Bonetta Davies (2020). Acrylic & fabric on canvas, 120x80 cm. Osborne House, United Kingdom.

Hannah Uzor on the English Heritage Podcast

Tour Scotland with me! | Tour Germany & Austria with me!

______

New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!

Listen to me on Lady Audaci-TEA: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

Subscribe to my newsletter, The Fascinator.

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast

TikTok: @artofhistorypod | @matta_of_fact

With the tragic demise of Lady Jane Grey (1537-1554) serving as inspiration for countless works of art, it was hard to select just one to focus our attention on. But I did it, and in this episode, we dive into the short life of England’s Nine Days Queen.

Today's Image: Paul Delaroche, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey (1833). Oil on Canvas. National Gallery, London.

______

Join me in traveling this year! Scotland Trip | Germany + Austria Trip

______

New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!

Subscribe to my newsletter, The Fascinator.

Email: [email protected]

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/matta_of_fact

Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast

TikTok: @artofhistorypod | @matta_of_fact

Listen to me on Lady Audaci-TEA: Spotify | Apple Podcasts