Apocalypse & the Book of Revelation
The apocalypse comes from the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, which describes the final battle between God and Satan – Armageddon. During the medieval perio…
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The Boar and Bear Hunt tapestry
This tapestry is one of a group of four, known as the Devonshire Hunting Tapestries, made in the southern Netherlands in around 1425–30. All four tapestries depict hunting …
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The Ascension Relief by Donatello, 1428-30
Donatello is regarded as one of the greatest sculptors of the 1400s and this marble panel is one of the finest surviving examples of his innovative work in extremely low re…
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A ceiling from Cremona
This ceiling was painted in about 1500 with frescos depicting an old man, a boy and a woman, listening to the Muses. (Audio described)
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The War of Troy Tapestry
The War of Troy tapestry is part of one of the most important sets of tapestry still surviving from the latter part of the 15th century. The Trojan War tapestries were made…
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'The Adoration of the Magi' Panel by Augustin Henckel, 1500-20
This carved, painted and gilded limewood panel shows the scene at Bethlehem when the three gift-bearing kings (magi) arrived to see the infant Jesus Christ. You can listen …
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Saints & Suffering
During the medieval and Renaissance periods, saints, particularly female saints, were also venerated because of the pain or martyrdom they suffered during their lives. For …
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A lantern from Venice
This lantern was probably made for a galley belonging to the powerful maritime city-state of Venice. Ships of the Venetian fleet signalled to each other using large lantern…
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Cosimo I de' Medici: Renaissance patron
Cosimo I de’ Medici (1519–74) was Duke of Florence between 1537 and his death. The de’ Medicis were renowned for their patronage of the arts, and Cosimo I continued this tr…
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An altarpiece from Brixen
According to local tradition, this altarpiece came from the church of St Andrew in Klausen near Brixen (now Bressanone, Italy). The piece is dominated by the figure of the …
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'Young Slave', wax sketch model by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564)
Michelangelo destroyed many of his preparatory works, but but the growing interest in the creative process and his extraordinary celebrity led several of his contemporaries…
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The St Margaret altarpiece
This imposing painted oak altarpiece tells the story of Saint Margaret of Antioch, who was martyred for refusing to renounce Christianity. You can listen to an enhanced aud…
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Looking at Glass: A Guide to Terms
An essential guide to glass and its production. This compact handbook offers definitions and descriptions of a wide range of glass terminology such as…
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