Romanesque Style against Itself
February 4, 2024
What could be more perfect than Romanesque style’s simple geometrical order? The Romanesque arches rising towards the heavens at Saint Trophime in Arles, France (above) gave the
Romanesque Style; One of Medieval Europe’s Greatest Glories
February 4, 2024
Romanesque style deserves more attention than it gets. Gothic style gets top billing among medieval buffs. But appreciate Romanesque cathedrals on their terms, and they’ll
Gothic Style Is Born; The Abbey Church of St. Denis, Part Two
February 3, 2024
After exploring the entrance facade of St. Denis in the last article, we’ll now venture inside. The person who spearheaded Gothic style, Abbot Suger, personally
Gothic Style is Born; The Abbey Church of St. Denis in France, Part One
February 2, 2024
Back to Europe. After exploring Indian and Middle Eastern art, where better to land than one of the most influential churches in history. The abbey
The Heart of Islam in Mosque Architecture
February 2, 2024
Mosque architecture and the most basic Islamic truths reflect each other in tremendously rich ways. Islam has five pillars of faith, and the main one is
The Soul of Writing in Islam
February 1, 2024
I recently said that a lot of things in Islamic thought have deeper meanings than what you see on the surface. If you look
Indian Art’s Love of Abundance; It Ain’t Your Father’s Greek Temple
January 31, 2024
The above photo sure doesn’t look like an ancient Greek temple. Nor does it look like a Romanesque cathedral. Instead of focusing on the simplest
Northern Thai Temple Roofs; Meetings of Heaven and Earth
January 26, 2024
My favorite regional variety of Thai art is from the north. After the Thais threw off the Khmer yoke in the 13th century, a king
Thailand’s Phra Singh Buddha; One of Asia’s Greatest Art Works
January 25, 2024
The Kingdom of Lan Na emerged when the Thais liberated themselves from the Khmers in the 13th century. Lan Na thrived in northern Thailand, and