A history of the largest religious structure on earth: St. Peter's Bascillica

In the early 1800s, the French invaded Spain and overthrew Ferdinand VII. Goya initially supported the French invasion, hoping they would restore democracy and end the inquisition but the reality of living through war affected Goya...

Let me introduce you to Miss Lala also know as, Olga Kaira, “Olga the Mulatto”, “Olga the Negress”, “The Venus of the Tropics”, “The Cannon Woman” and “The African Princess.” Miss Lala possessed incredible strength, an all-around...

A description of crime and punishment during Queen Victoria's reign when there was once around two hundred crimes that carried the death penalty and hangings were carried out in public.

Francisco Goya's series of aquatint prints, The Disasters of War are hard to look at. Rather than focus on the bombastics of usual war art, he depicts the suffering of regular people - the starving, assaults, executions. He does not...

When most people picture a dictator, the first thought that comes to mind is usually of a strongman in military regalia. Seldom does one picture a dictator as a woman, and for good reason. There really hasn't been a female dictator in...

Ancient Romans loved their sports and entertainment, and the Colosseum put on the grandest games in all of ancient Rome. With its gladiators, interchangeable arenas, exotic animals, and the rare naval reenactment, being a spectator in...

Around 886, Alfred took London, reverting it back to Saxon hands. He quickly handed London to Lord Aethelraed of Mercia, perhaps as a wedding gift. Aethelraed and Aethelflaed were married around 886. The couple poured their money and...

Learn how Aethelflaed balanced violence and diplomacy to bring all of England back under united, Anglo-Saxon rule. Did Aethelflaed fight in battle? Or did she direct from behind the lines? How did Aethelflaed and her forces capture Derby...

Leonardo da Vinci's understanding of the natural world and the forces that shape it influenced every aspect of his artwork, from the foreground to the background. Learn how aerial perspective and the horizon line create the illusion of...

In 1550, art historian Giorgio Vasari noted in his book on Renaissance artwork that, "Leonardo undertook to execute, for Francesco del Giocondo, the portrait of Mona Lisa, his wife." But there was dispute about Mona Lisa's true...

What were the duties of a Anglo-Saxon royal women? Learn what role these women played in social, domestic, and legal affairs in their lands. In addition to the usual responsibilities, in the early 900s, Aethelflaed took on more of the...

Leonardo da Vinci once said that "art is never finished, just abandoned." Art, science, and the natural world were not separate subjects for da Vinci. He was a man who never stopped learning and it seems fitting that we never seem to...

In 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre. The theft drew more attention to the portrait at the same time that photography brought copies of the image to people all around the world. This surely raised the Mona Lisa's...

Or rather, what is she not wearing? Mona Lisa's simple clothing and lack of jewelry ensure that viewers focus on the face, rather than her clothing. How many copies were made of the Mona Lisa? Learn how Leonardo da Vinci used the...

Why do Mona Lisa's eyes seem to be looking at us, no matter where we stand? The answer has to do with a set of meticulous artistic choices that da Vinci used for this portrait. Learn how Leonardo da Vinci used the verdaccio,...

Leonardo da Vinci was a prolific artist and scientist. His intricate anatomical illustrations informed the structure of his most famous painting - the Mona Lisa. It is a painting of an ordinary woman that has inspired extraordinary...

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes began working as a court painter for King Charles III of Spain in 1786. He painted mainly portriats and was well-known for his romantic style. His artistic style turned darker, however, when his...

In 902, an army of Danes crossed into Mercia. Rather than battle, Aethelflaed and Aethelred chose a diplomatic solution, giving the Danes a bit of land to live and work and avoiding an armed conflict. Aethelred died soon after. The...

Aethelflaed was the eldest daughter of Albert the Great. Though Anglo-Saxon women held little political power at the time, Aethelflaed went on to become a queen and a legend. Learn what her early life was like and how she would have...

In June of 918, Aethelflaed died suddenly at 48 years old. There is dispute as to whether her brother Edward immediately took over as ruler of Mercia or whether her daughter, Aelfwynn ruled for a while. Eventually, Edward's son...

Aethelflaed quickly began shoring up the defenses of her kingdom, restoring strategically located fortresses. Understand how Aethelflaed worked with her brother Edward to defend their kingdoms with an offensive strategy. Did...

Leonardo da Vinci spent a lot of time dissecting cadavers and studying the structure of muscles in the body. He had a particular interest in how emotions are translated into expression using the facial muscles. He was also interested...

Mona Lisa's stature and expression seem normal today, but were rather groundbreaking at the time. Portraits of Italian women usually depicted them in profile or looking down. Never looking at the audience as da Vinci does with Mona...