history | Daydream Tourist

Oct 15

Royal Revisions in Assyrian Art

We sometimes forget that beautiful works of art may have been created with ulterior motives. Think of a pharaoh using a heroic frieze to solidify his power, an elegant Renaissance chapel donated to erase the sins of the patron, or a lovely oil portrait sent to encourage a royal marriage. Sometimes the circumstances behind the message change and the image must be adjusted. I notice one such major revision in Chicago and was surprised to hear about some political turmoil that led to the defacement of a glorious royal sculpture.

The Khorsabad Gate, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago (Photo: American Lady, Flickr)

Oct 10

2 Comments

Seaside Charm in Nafplio, Greece

Touring the Peloponnese is a lot of work. Don’t get me wrong, the towns and countryside are gorgeous. Its just that you just have to cover a lot of ground and move from hotel to hotel. That’s why I’m glad I tweaked my planning a little bit to spent a few days in Nafplio. Its close to several major archaeological sites for day-tripping and is a fantastic, relaxing sea-side escape in its own right. Nafplio is the kind of place you look for when traveling!

Watching the fortress and passing boats while enjoying a post-lunch coffee along the Nafplio harbor.

Sep 12

7 Comments

Blended Architecture in Chiesa Matrice, Erice, Sicily

Sometimes on the quest for art, you end up learning a lot more about the history of a place. I didn’t expect to find Norman castles and churches in Sicily but it is hard to deny the thick bulky structures when you find them. I also didn’t expect to find detailed decorative elements reminiscent of the Middle East but there they were. What became Sicilian Norman art is a blend of cultures and adds an exotic flavor to an already interesting mix of Greco-Roman and Baroque architecture on the island. Once you factor in 19th century restorations with a mind of their own, you find can find some complex and beautiful churches. I found one such example of blended art in the little town of Erice and the Chiesa Matrice Church.

Beautiful ceiling details

Sep 5

3 Comments

Rookwood Pottery Factory (& Bar?)

I’ve already mentioned that Cincinnati is known for being the home of Rookwood Pottery. While Rookwood pottery today is produced in a modern facility, the original factory is still available for visits. The only catch is that the plant responsible for classic American Arts & Crafts design is now a restaurant and bar which gives you the rare opportunity to eat in a kiln!

A kiln in the dining room of the Rookwood Bar & Restaurant.

Sep 2

11 Comments

John Singer Sargent’s Travel Pictures

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme. This month we are discussing Travel Art! You can find links below for the rest of the group’s posts this month. I take a lots of photos when I travel but I really admire those who can sketch cities, landscapes and people when they travel. An incredibly talented artist (although I am biased), John Singer Sargent is the epitome of the artist-traveler in that he captured his destinations in rich and brilliant but ephemeral scenes.