Marble head of Athena: The so-called Athena Medici Roman ca. 138–92 CE Copy of a Greek statue of ca. 430 B.C. attributed to Pheidias This head is from a fine Roman copy of an over-life-sized statue of the goddess Athena which has long been attributed to Pheidias, the most famous artist of that period. The eyes were once inset with colored stones. The head retains part of the frontlet and neck guard of an Attic helmet that was originally completed in wood and gilded. This combination of marble and wood, whereby the drapery and attributes such as the helmet were worked in wood and gilded while the flesh parts were carved in marble, is known as the acrolithic technique. It imitated the appearance of immensely valuable gold and ivory statues, such as the great Athena Parthenos that stood inside the Parthenon in Athens and the colossal seated statue of Zeus at Olympia.

Been reading Patrick Bringley's "All the Beauty in the World" and have been thinking about this marble head of Athena cited therein. @metmuseum.org is truly a treasure. #ArtEncounters #Athena #sculpture #AncientArt

House at Dusk 1935 Edward Hopper, American, 1882 - 1967 (Artist) Edward Hopper’s evocative pictures of modern America have a haunting appeal–so firmly are they embedded in the cultural imagination. House at Dusk, imbued with the artist’s defining themes of temporality and ambiguity, is one of the strongest and most lyrical oils of his mature career. The scene is set at the “exquisite hour” of dusk, that most transitional time of day. As in many of his works, Hopper introduces a suspenseful narrative element with the figure of a woman silhouetted by artificial light, seemingly unaware of the subtle afterglow taking place behind her apartment house. House at Dusk was purchased by VMFA for $4,000 in 1953. Acquired sixteen years after the artist served as a juror for the museum’s first biennial exhibition, the painting was recommended by no less an authority on contemporary painting than Alfred Barr, then the director of New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

“House at Dusk” oil on canvas 1935 by Edward Hopper (American, 1882-1967) Owned by the VA Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, VA #art #ArtEncounters #paintings #EdwardHopper #RVA #museum #ArtMuseum

"Vanitas - Still Life with Books and Manuscripts and a Skull" (1663, Oil on panel) Artist: Edwaert Collier, Dutch (c. 1643-1710) Collier was a Dutch painter who specialized in the "Vanitas" type of still life composed of such motifs as a skeleton, globe, or musical instruments which were portrayed as a warning against the vanity of this world. He did a large number of still lifes including books, which were symbols of scholarship and worldly matters. At first sight, objects may appear to be standing at random, but it soon becomes evident that the composition was carefully defined along the two diagonals. Inscribed on the piece of paper is a passage quoted from Chapter 26 of "The Book of Psalms". (Source: The Digital Gallery. 1999-2006) Image features a skull & bones, an upturned glass vase, a wooden oboe or clarinet, books, manuscript, ivy leaves, and a pocket watch among other things.

It being October, I think I shall share an assortment of "Memento Mori" art because I feel like it. #ArtEncounters #art #MementoMori Memento mori = Latin for "remember that you have to die" It is an artistic symbol or trope acting as a reminder of the inevitability of death. #Halloween #October

Detail of an illuminated manuscript margin featuring a dark grey rabbit wielding an axe

Killer bunnies are a recurring motif in medieval illuminated manuscripts. #ArtEncounters #KillerRabbit #KillerBunny #medieval #drolleries #IlluminatedManuscripts #art #drawing #rabbits #bunnies
Not entirely sure of the source for this one, but life is short & the world is crazed so here it is.

Following their marriage, Kahlo travelled with Rivera to New York during the height of the Great Depression. Kahlo reflected in a letter that, “high society here turns me off & I feel a bit of rage against all these rich guys here, since I have seen thousands of people in the most terrible misery without anything to eat & with no place to sleep,” Kahlo’s criticism of the U.S. is evident in this crowded & complex work titled, My Dress Hangs There. Kahlo’s unique, urban landscape of New York includes Ellis Island & the Statue of Liberty visible in the top central portion of the painting while skyscrapers repeat in the center. Looking closer, she has included symbols that represent elements of American society that she despised. The columned building in the center of the work is Federal Hall on Wall Street. This building is linked to organized religion by a red thread leading to Trinity church in the upper left-hand corner. Notice the dollar sign woven around the front of the church—these elements combine to represent the corrupt nature of American finance. In front of Trinity Church is a billboard of Mae West, a prominent performer and celebrity of the time, looking down on crowds in breadlines spanning the newly constructed George Washington Bridge. Between the elite & the poorest of America is a burning building, with roaring flames & billowing smoke. In the center of the image, Kahlo’s traditional, Mexican Tehuana dress is suspended between two pillars holding a toilet and a trophy—these may reference the misplaced priorities of wealthy Americans as they obsessed over the convenience of modern plumbing & competitive sports. As she spent more time in the US, often feeling out of place & homesick, Frida used fashion to stand out from all that she found distasteful & elitist, adopting traditional dresses of the indigenous, Zapotec women. Frida hangs her dress above the masses to show her sympathy for the common working people suffering during the Great Depression.

Got to go to the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the VMFA with a dear friend. Noticed cool details I missed the first time around (back in April)
Like in this painting called “My Dress Hangs There” (1933-38) #art #RVA #ArtEncounters #FridaKahlo

An illuminated manuscript with drawings in the margin: drawing shows a hound riding on a rabbit and a rabbit riding on a snail battle with shields and lances. High concept!

Killer bunnies are a recurring motif in medieval illuminated manuscripts. #ArtEncounters #KillerRabbit #KillerBunny #medieval #drolleries #IlluminatedManuscripts #art #drawing #rabbits #bunnies
This one comes from the Breviary of Renaud de Bar (Winter portion), Metz, France, 1302-03

A knight swings his sword at a rabbit which rears up on its hind legs.

Killer bunnies are a recurring motif in medieval illuminated manuscripts. #ArtEncounters #KillerRabbit #KillerBunny #medieval #drolleries #IlluminatedManuscripts #art #drawing #rabbits #bunnies
This one is from The Gorleston Psalter, East Anglia, England, 1310-24

Medieval drawing of two grey rabbits in a stone tower with crenellations. The rabbits wield shields and are hurling rocks at invading dogs with shields and swords. Taken from an illuminated manuscript circa early 1300s

Killer bunnies are a recurring motif in medieval illuminated manuscripts. #ArtEncounters #KillerRabbit #KillerBunny #medieval #drolleries #IlluminatedManuscripts #art #drawing #rabbits #bunnies
This image is a detail from the summer volume of the Breviary of Renaud, Metz ca. 1302-1305

Join us on 8/1 from 5-9 for our First Friday Art Hop at Art Encounters. Its a perfect time to check out our new gallery space! We have 14 local artists that showcase and sell their handmade artwork. Art Hops are always free and family friendly. Address in bio.
#arthop #artencounters #daytonohio

Arts Hops coming up on 6/14 11a-4p and 6/15 11a-4p!!!
Stop by the one stop shop for all things art!
Everything is handmade by a local Dayton Artists.
A great way to support local and add some beauty to your life!
Address in bio.
#arthop #artforsale #shoplocal #daytonohio #artencounters #frontstreet

#arthop #daytonohio #frontstreet #artencounters #shoplocal

Abstract painting as a circle and layered by many circular shapes that vary size-wise & by color. Also inlaid circles, so that circles are visible in part to entirety. The effect implies movement -- swirling around, as well as forward & backward. The use of white ranges in opacity, lessened when overlapping another color. Lavender to mauve are in the background, and range from translucent to opaque. Opaque uses of black, burgundy, black, soft medium blue.

#ArtIsBalm. Aiming to share my lived #ArtEncounters that have brought me #Peace, #Joy, #Hope, #Awe, #Delight, &/or #Wonderment. .

Original photo of Untitled (Abstract), oil painting, 1972. #NenaSaguil (Filipina), 1st presentation at #VeniceArtsBiennale, 2025.

#VisualArt #ArtIsLife #BeautyIsBalm