Svalbard Museum and Longyearbyen

February 3, 2024

Today I’ll be taking you on a video and photographic tour of the Svalbard Museum and Longyearbyen. Welcome to “Art, Culture & Books” with me Anthony King. Svalbard, previously known as Spitsbergen is a Norwegian archipelago situated in the Arctic Ocean. Its capital is Longyearbyen, positioned on the west coast of the main island. In the 17th and 18th centuries, whalers navigating the far north utilized these islands as a base. Subsequently, the archipelago faced abandonment. Coal mining commenced in the early 20th century, leading to the establishment of permanent communities like Pyramiden and Barentsburg. The Svalbard Treaty of 1920 acknowledges Norwegian sovereignty, while the Norwegian Svalbard Act of 1925 formally integrates Svalbard into the Kingdom of Norway. This treaty designates Svalbard as both a

Witches Going to their Sabbath by Luis Ricardo Falero

February 2, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting Witches going to their Sabbath by Luis Ricardo Falero which I saw in Munich. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. Luis Ricardo Falero was born May 23, 1851 and died December 7, 1896 in Spain. His focus in art was primarily on female nudes and depictions of mythological, orientalist, and fantasy scenes. The predominant medium for his work was oil on canvas. His nude work is some of the most impressive, realistic yet quite strange art you will even see. It’s worth noting that in England, Falero occasionally referred to himself as the Duke of Labranzano, which was completely made up and didn’t exist at all. Witches going to their Sabbath also known as The

Tour of the Sphinx at the Pyramids of Giza

February 1, 2024

Today I’ll be taking you on a little tour of the Sphinx at the Pyramids of Giza. Yesterday I gave you a tour around the Pyramids. Today it’s the turn of the mighty Sphinx. Welcome to “Art, Culture & Books” with me Anthony King. On the Giza Plateau, situated on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt, the Great Sphinx stands as a limestone statue depicting a reclining creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. Facing directly from west to east, it is believed to represent the pharaoh Khafre, and its original shape, carved from bedrock, has been restored with layers of limestone blocks. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Sphinx, dating back to the Old Kingdom, is

Tour of the Pyramids of Giza

January 31, 2024

In this episode, I’ll be taking you on a tour of the Pyramids of Giza. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. The mysterious Pyramids of Giza are some of the most magnificent structures ever created. I’ve visited the Pyramids of Giza four times in my life and the last time I visited in 2023 I spent almost the full day on the plateau and contemplated what I was seeing and really tried to take in the experience. I also filmed and walked right out into the desert and I mean past the desert observation area … to get the full view you have to walk through the sands and off the pavement, literally into the desert but the view and experience

The Clepsydra of Karnak at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization

January 30, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting the ancient Egyptian Clepsydra of Karnak at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. This incredible alabaster Clepsydra, from 1391-1353 BC is thought to be the oldest ever found in history. The Karnak Clepsydra features 12 intricately carved columns, each accompanied by corresponding holes representing the hours of the night. A minute hole at the centre of the base allowed water to flow, emerging outside beneath the depiction of a seated baboon. Its design prioritized independence from weather conditions, ensuring consistent timekeeping even with poor visibility of the sun or stars. Determining the time involved observing the water level within the basin and referencing the nearest hole. The

An American Girl by Gerald Laing at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery

January 29, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting An American Girl by Gerald Laing at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. You’ll find the incredible An American Girl bronze by Gerald Laing at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery in Scotland. It was conceived in in 1977 and cast in 1978. He used his wife as his model and you can see the mix of naturalism with abstraction. This is one of an edition of ten (plus two artist proofs). He himself described the bronze: “The headscarf is intended to be reminiscent of a US World War II helmet; it has always seemed to me that the large cranial size of these helmets gave US soldiers of the period

The Archer Bogenspannerin by Ferdinand Lepcke at the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin, Germany

January 28, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting The Archer by Ferdinand Lepcke at the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin, Germany. Ferdinand Lepcke’s sculpture, known as “The Archer” or Bogenspannerin, stands in the collection of Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin, Germany. Crafted from bronze, the piece depicts a youthful, unclothed woman in the act of drawing a bow. The figure exhibits classic proportions and an athletic physique, adorned only with Roman-style sandals. Notably, four replicas of this statue are dispersed across various German cities. The Archer gained significant attention during exhibitions in Munich and Berlin, earning acclaim from both professionals and attendees, as well as garnering positive reviews in the media. The original version of this sculpture is in Poland and it has had quite a history there. At

The Toilet of Venus (Rokeby Venus) by Diego Velázquez

January 27, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting the Toilet of Venus also known as the Rokeby Venus by Diego Velázquez at the National Gallery London. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. Diego Velázquez, a prominent figure in the Spanish Golden Age of art, painted The Rokeby Venus between 1647 and 1651, likely during his time in Italy. This masterpiece portrays Venus, the goddess of love, reclining sensually on a bed, her back turned to the observer, while Cupid, the Roman god of physical love, holds a mirror. Records show that Velázquez was baptized on June 6, 1599, and died on August 6, 1660, Diego Rodríguez Velázquez, a Knight of the Order of Santiago, stood as a leading painter in the court of