Gerriann Brower
Renaissance Hair
Renaissance hair served dual functions. Hair beautified the individual and indicated well-being and character. The length and style of hair
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Italian Art for Travelers
Your passport to culture, history, and art
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Gerriann Brower
May 25, 202313 min read
From Renaissance Self-Portrait to Selfie
Are selfies an evolution of the self-portrait, or do they lack the cleverness and creativity of early modern self-images? The Italian Nation
Gerriann Brower
Dec 15, 202211 min read
Saint Carlo's Relics
How did a piece of an Italian saint make it from Milan, Italy, to St. Paul, Minnesota, USA? I found answers to most of my questions, includi
Gerriann Brower
Jul 26, 202213 min read
The Shroud of Turin
The relic of all relics is a linen sheet bearing faint blood stains of a Christ’s body. It has been venerated, debunked, and debated for cen
Gerriann Brower
Jun 6, 20229 min read
Peacocks, Fetters, and other Signs and Symbols
A painting with a peacock, a wheel, a blue garment, a dead tree, and a woman holding pincers – what does it mean? If we could time travel ba
Gerriann Brower
Apr 10, 202212 min read
Leonardo’s Last Supper: Why it’s Magnificent
Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper is one of his most admired and recognizable art works. It is iconic, has been reproduced endlessly, parodied
Gerriann Brower
Mar 3, 202112 min read
The Meander Tattoo
A better title for this post is “How My Wife Ended up with a Fifth Century Mosaic Tattooed on Her Foot.” It’s an odd connection between...
Gerriann Brower
Sep 24, 202012 min read
Mary's Miracles
A boy from Lombardy wanders into a river and falls in. His parents are desperate to locate him. Later he is found by his family standing...
Gerriann Brower
May 11, 202011 min read
Plague and Pandemics
What does Covid-19 and plague in Italy have in common? A lot it turns out, including disagreements about what to do or not do, and what reme
Gerriann Brower
Mar 24, 20209 min read
Trailblazing Women Artists
Welcome to the hidden history of women artists. Were there really women artists in the 1600s and 1700s? Yes, there were. White male...
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