Diskobolos of Myron at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford

May 4, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting Diskobolos of Myron at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. This incredible work is the “Diskobolos of Myron”. The Diskobolos is obviously the discus-thrower. The museum tell us: “An athlete is coiled up in a taut, momentary pose, about to throw the discus – one of the pentathlete’s five events. The cast combines a headless statue from Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli and the head of a statue found in Rome. Copied closely from a lost bronze victor statue by the Athenian sculptor, Myron, active c. 460-440 BC. Body: Vatican Museums. Head: Rome, National Museum.” There aren’t any original sculptures that we know were made by him that still exist

Vitesse poster for the French State Railway!

May 4, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting a 1934 Vitesse poster at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. This 1934 Vitesse poster was designed for the French State Railway and depicts the streamlined Bugatti Autorail designed by Ettore Bugatti. It’s extremely stylish. The Museum tell us of the era; “Design in the machine age. The first half of the 20th century saw remarkable changes in design. Developments in mass manufacture and a commitment to good design produced objects that were attractive, affordable and functional. Designers exploited changes in technology and experimented with new materials such as metal alloys and plastics, and synthetic dyes. Changes in technology and manufacture went hand in hand with new ways

The Dance of Spring by Edward Atkinson Hornel

May 3, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting The Dance of Spring by Edward Atkinson Hornel at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. Edward Atkinson Hornel was raised in Scotland and was born 17th July 1864 and died in 1933. The Dance of Spring was painted around about 1892-3 and it’s such a standout! It’s bizarre and beautiful and peculiar all at the same time. The vibrant colour and strange exaggerated facial expressions alongside the physical movement of the girls in the painting really give this piece a power and attraction that I really liked. The Kelvingrove tell us; “Hornel painted these figures and their background with such sweeping curves and brilliant colours that

Girl with a fawn by Nada Stanic at the Museums and Galleries of Podgorica, Montenegro

May 3, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting Girl with a fawn by Nada Stanic at the Museums and Galleries of Podgorica, Montenegro. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. As always, I take all the photos and videos myself on location, ensuring you get an up-close and personal view of the fascinating world of art and culture. Please consider donating via Paypal to keep the channel going. I’ll be popping in and out with commentary as this video progresses but for now let’s take a close up look. Nada Stanic (1931-2012) was the first female sculpture of Montenegro to come to prominence. Montenegro was formerly part of Yugoslavia and officially gained independence in 2006 … I had to double check that date but

The Zaan at Zaandam by Claude Monet

May 3, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be taking a quick look at Claude Monet’s The Zaan at Zaandam. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King.

The Devil’s Bridge, St Gotthard Pass by Joseph Mallord William Turner at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford

May 2, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting The Devil’s Bridge, St Gotthard Pass by Joseph Mallord William Turner at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. The Devil’s Bridge, St Gotthard oil on canvas was painted around 1803-1804 and is a striking piece of Art! I assure you, this is a special painting. The museum tell us: “Turner took advantage of the Peace of Amiens in 1802 to make a tour of the Continent, travelling as far as Switzerland and making numerous sketches and watercolours. This painting and its pendant, The Pass of St Gotthard (Birmingham City Art Gallery), were probably executed in 1803-4. They epitomise Turner’s interpretation of the sublime. Here, the tiny figures and narrow bridge

Beatrice by William Dyce at the Aberdeen Art Gallery

May 2, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting Beatrice by William Dyce at the Aberdeen Art Gallery. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. William Dyce was born 19th September 1806 in Aberdeen and was associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and played a part in their early popularity. This 1870 oil on canvas is of Beatrice who was an Italian woman who has been commonly identified as the principal inspiration for Dante Divine Comedy. In the Comedy, Beatrice symbolises divine grace and theology. Interestingly, this painting was commissioned by the artists friend, Prime Minister William Gladstone who was Dante admirer. The model for the painting was actually chosen by Gladstone. She was a “Model” and former prostitute who was “rescued” by him. Her name

Andy Warhol’s 1968 Oyster Stew Soup at the Gallery of Modern Art Glasgow in Scotland

May 2, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting Andy Warhol’s 1968 Oyster Stew Soup at the Gallery of Modern Art Glasgow in Scotland. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. When queried by art critic G. R. Swenson in 1963 about his fascination with soup cans, Warhol responded succinctly. “Many a midday, my mother would crack open a can of Campbell’s for me, it was all we could afford back then. Even now, I cherish it.” This piece, a printed image on paper, likely belongs to a series of 250. Warhol famously remarked, “I used to consume it, it was my daily ritual for two decades.” Campbell’s Soup Cans stands as Warhol’s defining masterpiece, emblematic of the Pop Art movement. This piece has recently

Dancer, Looking at the Sole of her Right Foot by Edgar Degas at the Oxford Ashmolean Museum

May 1, 2024

In this episode, we’ll be visiting Dancer, Looking at the Sole of her Right Foot by Edgar Degas at the Oxford Ashmolean Museum. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. Yes, we are talking about the painter Edgar Degas! So, following Degas’s death in 1917, his studio revealed over 150 sculptures, primarily crafted from delicate materials like wax and clay with many in poor condition. Only a handful had been preserved in plaster copies. Despite Degas’s preference against permanent materials, his heirs allowed for bronze casting to conserve and commercialize the works. Sculptor Paul-Albert Bartholomé, alongside a famous Paris foundry prepared 72 figures for casting. Each bronze underwent rigorous quality control, with a limited edition of twenty-two sets produced around 1920, reflecting