Visual & Decorative Arts Blog

Recently a Pre-Raphaelite study was found, of all places, behind a door! Said door was within a 16th century manor house owned by Bamber Gascoigne, former University Challenge host.

The study's significance stems from its relationship to one of the most iconic Pre-Raphaelite images of all time, Flaming June. Recognised across the world, the original is hosted in the municipal art museum of Puerto Rico’s second biggest city, Ponce.

'They are the Moomins… They are the Moomins…' For many others like me, "The Moomins" is a nostalgia loaded term that shoots me straight back to my childhood when I watched the popular anime TV series. That charming, yet also strangely melancholy theme song is just one of the many distinctive aspects of the fiercely unique comic creation. Watch the intro to the TV show here. 

It was European artists who first strove to depict the human body as accurately as possible. However, to achieve figures that were truly lifelike artists had to invest in study of the human body. This meant not only noting the body's outer appearance but also its inner workings, in particular the muscles and tendons that work in tandem to make movement and posture possible. 

The live action movie for the beloved manga series turned TV show is coming to theatres this summer. Even if you're not a fan of the show, there's a chance Attack on Titan might still ring a bell somewhere. That's because it's a mega-sensation, with over 30 million volumes of the manga having been sold in 2014. With successful translations for english-speaking countries and a TV series that has been running for the last couple of years, the stage seems perfectly set for a transition to the silver screen. 

Michelangelo is considered one of the greatest artists of all time. His mastery of carving the human body with incredible realistic detail continues to impress us to this day. His most famous sculpture, David, stands impressively today at the Accademia Gallery in Florence. It is no wonder that we are adding Michelangelo to our Masterpieces of Art series. In a previous blog, we took a close look at the greatest sculpture ever achieved by a single man. If you missed it, click here to read more.

With the upcoming movie 'Woman in Gold' soon to be released, we thought it would be a great time to revisit one of our favourite artists at Flame Tree, Gustav Klimt. 'Woman in Gold,' as you may know, is based off the true story of Maria Altman's attempt to reclaim her aunt's portrait, Adele Bloch-Bauer I. We have already discussed Klimts works in great detail, including 'The Kiss' and the 'Tree of Life'. With the approach of the movie, we return to Klimt's works and explore the woman behind the painting. Just who was Adele Bloch-Bauer?

The Scream is Edvard Munch's most famous work of art. It is easily recognisable and eternally haunting. The figure at the centre opens its mouth in an almost audible scream of agony while colours swirl in the background. But what influenced Munch to create this masterpiece? With the upcoming release of our new book Edvard Munch: Masterpieces of Art, we take a look at Munch's life and the influences that led to the Scream.

In our previous blog on Mondrian, we learned about his early life and influences. We started exploring the path Mondrian took to get from strict Dutch traditional Impressionism to the abstract work we now know him for. If you missed our first instalment, check it out here.

Wassily Kandinsky is considered to be the 'Father of the Abstract.' From an early age he had a strong connection to colour and throughout his artistic career he was interested in the portrayal of colours and shape. It took a simple mix up, when his wife accidentally set his work in progress on its side, for him to find artistic truth. Kandinsky's art was an extension of his spiritual thoughts and the abstract works that he created inspired many artists and art movements.

The recent claim that two previously unaccredited bronze statues were actually made by Michelangelo have caused a stir in the art world. The two anatomically 'perfect' panther-riders are thought to be the only lasting sculptures in bronze made by the late master. 

Such is Michelangelo's pedigree, that even a relatively modest set such as this can cause art forums to go into meltdown. The reason for this is simple: Michelangelo is one of the most highly revered artists of all time. His work on the the Sistine Chapel and of course, the statue of David, are arguably two of the most iconic pieces of art of all time.