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Young Girl Reading, c. 1770. Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Photo courtesy of the National Gallery of Art.
She sits in a yellow dress, resting her back against an oversized pillow, reading the book in her hand with her pinky extended, a nice detail...
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The invitations went out a few weeks ago amid much excitement. Guests were invited to a “royal dinner feast” and advised to “come dressed for the castle: formal, festive, and fun.” As the news spread, there was a buzz in the air...
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When I think about the beauty of Christmas, one of the first things that comes to mind is the music.
I still remember every word and note of the Christmas album my parents played every year once the tree was up and decorated. A few years ago, I was thrilled to find...
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Edgar Degas, The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer. Metropolitan Museum of Art
Her name is Marie van Goethem, and she’s a young ballet student at the Paris Opera. She stands informally in fourth position, her head back, the ribbon holding her braid dangling. Her hands are joined behind her. Her eyes are closed, her face upturned. What is she thinking about? Maybe she dreams of becoming a famous ballerina one day...
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Think about a painting or photograph that you like. What do you like about it? Is it the subject matter, the story it seems to tell, or the skill of the artist? The colors in the Dallas Kinney photo grabbed me. It made me want to be there, to walk through that grove myself...
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For years I'd wanted to visit Italy. I wanted to experience the culture, visit historic sites, eat the gelato (oops--I mean, the food), and of course see the architecture and art. I planned to marvel at the paintings of the masters. At no time did I ever think I'd actually hold a paintbrush in my hand.
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Last Sunday afternoon, I spent an hour and 17 minutes stuck in the back of a taxicab, trying to get from the airport to my hotel. Three big events in the city combined with roadwork, road closings, and quadrillions of people converged into one huge mess. Welcome to New York...
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Imagine you’re in the mountains, walking at twilight. It’s a beautiful, warm and clear night. The sunset is painting your favorite colors just over the mountains...
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