Stuff about Things: An Art History Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Minisode 2: Discovered - An Unknown Self-Portrait of Van Gogh Aug 27, 2022

Show notes

This half-hour ‘sode discusses the exciting discovery of a previously unknown self-portrait by Van Gogh, which he painted on the back of his painting known as Head of a Peasant Woman in the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland. Come for the knowledge, stay in spite of your hypothetical broken ankle.

Music credits:

"Success Dream" (Hooksounds.com)
"Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, Movement I (Allegro), BWV 1049"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Minisode 1: Lost & Found - Van Gogh's Drawing of Starry Night Aug 05, 2022

Show notes

Did you know that there are TWO Starry Nights? Well, you do now! This minisode covers the harrowing, fascinating, and infuriating story of Van Gogh's drawing of Starry Night. Come for the intrigue, stay in spite of the bad Russian pronunciation.

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Episode 33: Van Gogh & Starry Night Jul 27, 2022

Show notes

Art history nerds, lend me your… ear? Because there’s a new episode in town! This episode is a one-and-a-half-hour deep dive into the life of Vincent Van Gogh and one of his most famous works: The Starry Night! Come for the bashing of Paul “Googy” Gauguin, stay in spite of the ear-severing and alleged paint-eating. Edit 8/9 - Small corrections made to the episode. Gustave Courbet's L'Origine du monde is at the Musée d'Orsay, not the Louvre; Van Gogh died at an inn attended by doctors, not a local hospital; and Van Gogh: A Life was written by both Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith. Thanks to Gary F. for pointing these out.

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Episode 32: The Benin Bronzes, Part II Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

Howdy, you rootin' tootin' listener! This episode is the second in a two-part series on the Benin Bronzes, a group of a few thousand objects looted from the Kingdom of Benin in 1897. This episode covers the 1897 Benin Punitive Expedition, the subsequent scattering of the bronzes throughout the world, demands for the bronzes to be sent back to Nigeria, and why museums are saying “no” (or, in some cases, “NEIN!”). Come for the commentary about why eight British dudes need 250 African soldiers to carry their bags, stay in spite of the sarcasm sneezes.

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Episode 31: The Benin Bronzes, Part I Jan 19, 2022

Show notes

Ahoy, there! This episode is the first in a two-part series exploring the Benin Bronzes, a body of several thousand objects in bronze and brass that were looted from the Kingdom of Benin by the British in 1897. In this episode, we explore the historical and cultural context in which these magnificent bronze works were created, used, and beloved before talking about the bronzes themselves: what do they show? For what purposes were they made? What in the heck is lost wax casting? Come for the knowledge, stay in spite of my terrible pronunciation of Edo words/names.

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Episode 30: Raphael's Young Woman with a Unicorn Nov 20, 2021

Show notes

Will your biographer say you died from "amorous excesses"? Are you saving yourself for unicorn hunting? Have you ever heard of death by spiked wheel? You have now! In this episode, we dive deep into an alleged Raphael masterpiece known as the portrait of a Young Woman with a Unicorn. Come for the art historical facts, stay for the excursus on the benefits of hosting a two year old's birthday party. **contains mild language and innuendo**

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Episode 29: Niki de Saint Phalle & the Tarot Garden Jun 16, 2021

Show notes

All hail the queen of monsters, Niki de Saint Phalle! This episode is a deep dive into Niki de Saint Phalle, her career, and the culmination of her life’s work: the Giardino dei Tarocchi, or Tarot Garden. Come for the facts, stay in spite of the bad puns. #nikidesaintphalle #tarot #giardinodeitarocchi #tarotgarden #nana #monumental #sculpture #tinguely #modernart #arthistory #arthistorian #arteducation #pesciafiorentina

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Episode 28: The Ponte Sant'Angelo, Bernini, & the Stuff of Angels Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

Columns, thorns, and superscriptions, oh my! This episode is a deep-dive--not into the Tiber River but rather the almost 2000 year history of the Ponte Sant'Angelo in Rome, Italy. It includes background on the bridge's ancient past, a little dip into the biography of Gianlorenzo Bernini, and even an excursus on the bridge's appearance in cinematic masterpieces (ahem...)such as Angels & Demons. Come for the angels, stay in spite of my professed desire to become enmeshed in a murder-mystery situation.

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Episode 27: Oscar Wilde, Ivan Albright, & Pictures of Dorian Gray Dec 28, 2020

Show notes

Good God, dear Basil! There is a podcast episode about your portrait of Dorian Gray! Just kidding. Basil Hallward and Dorian Gray aren't real, but Oscar Wilde, Ivan Albright, and the many Pictures of Dorian Gray certainly are! This episode is a deep dive into Ivan Albright's sickeningly masterful Picture of Dorian Gray, which the artist painted for the 1945 movie adaptation of Irish author Oscar Wilde's classic novel. Come for the portraits, stay for my take on supernatural Egyptian cats that drive movie plots! Happy listening. **At some point, I do refer to Wilde as being British. My apologies to the Irish.**

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Episode 26: The Green Bay Packers & Lambeau Field Stadium Part II (1959-today) Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

Lambeau, Lombardi, and Leaps! This episode finishes the two-part series on the Green Bay Packers and Lambeau Field Stadium, from 1959 to today. Note: edited as of 11/19/2020 to remove a meaner-than-necessary jab at Brett Favre that I felt bad about in retrospect. Sorry, #4.

Music credits:

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