art Archives - Ethics & Public Policy Center
The Beauty of Belonging
Everyday aesthetic judgment is profoundly rooted in the sense of community, and also forms a part of the collective effort whereby communities are brought into being and maintained in equilibrium.
Seeing a Donor’s Vision
Cognoscenti of Asian art as well as tourists to the National Mall will find joy, knowledge and instruction in the Smithsonian’s Freer and Sackler Galleries.
Balloonists & Cherry Blossoms
On “Clouds in a Bag” at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center & “Inventing Utamaro” at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Stormy Mood, Tempestuous Brushstrokes
Titian’s portrait of ‘Doge Andrea Gritti’ is in almost the same condition as the day it left the artist’s studio.
The Virtue of Irrelevance
For the teacher, respect for children means giving them whatever one has by way of knowledge, teaching them to distinguish real knowledge from mere opinion, and introducing them to the subjects that make the mind adaptable to the unforeseen — even if those subjects are considered “irrelevant.”
Is High Culture a Luxury, or a Necessity?
From fine art to music, enjoying high culture has largely been seen as a reserve for leisure time – but in truth, it’s an essential element of everyday life.
The Museum as “Town Hall”
There are ongoing attempts to abandon curatorial authority, and quality, in order to turn museums into something between a town hall and a community center. And, amazingly, directors and curators themselves are leading these efforts.
Flood of Memories
Recalling a historic flood that swept through Florence in 1966 and destroyed many of the city’s cultural treasures.
The Museums We Deserve
On the distinguishing qualities of two of Washington’s most prominent art venues.
‘Della Robbia: Sculpting With Color in Renaissance Florence’ Review
They were among the most accomplished of Florence’s Renaissance sculptors, making divine beauty out of humble materials.