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- Albrecht Dürer

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Stendhal Syndrome - Exclusive Article

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- Francisco De Zurbaran, Allegory of charity, c.1655

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

The sacred heart is one of the most recurrent symbols in Christian iconography. Today, primarily online, it is often found in paintings and digital representations. However, what does it really mean?

Often the heart is represented with: flames, rays of light, arrows, the crown of thorns and the cross. Each of these elements hides a meaning.

The flames: they want to remember the burnt offerings that were considered the highest form of sacrifice in ancient Israel. Moreover, the flames are always related to the presence of God at a precise moment. The Bible shows us some examples, such as the burning bush that spoke to Moses. Finally, the flames in contact with the heart allude to Christ's infinite love for humanity.

Rays of Light: Light like the fire is an element of divinity. In fact, Christ is the light of the world, guiding and illuminating us, revealing us to God.

Arrows: are reminiscent of sin, but they may also be meant to recall Christ's love for us. They may be meant to recall the Roman metaphor for love, in which Cupid pierces the hearts of lovers with an arrow.

Crown of Thorns: wrapped around the heart, it is meant to recall the pain Christ felt at the moment the wounds were inflicted on him. After the resurrection, the crown becomes victory over death; it becomes the crown of life.

Cross: usually represented in the heart shows that the whole reality of the crucifixion draws its meaning from the heart of Jesus and cannot be understood apart from this.

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- Bouquet in a clay vase, Jan Brueghel the Elder, c.1609, The National Gallery.

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- Susan Sontag

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You can read the full article here

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- Robert Indiana, LOVE, 2021, Frieze Masters, London.

In these hard times, that’s all we need.

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You can read the full article here

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Sacred Heart of Jesus - Exclusive Article

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- Alexander Milov, Love, 2015.

Ukrainian sculptor Alexander Milov’s piece Love “demonstrates a conflict between a man and a woman as well as the outer and inner expression of human nature. Their inner selves are executed in the form of transparent children, who are holding out their hands through the grating. As it’s getting dark (night falls) the children start to shine. This shining is a symbol of purity and sincerity that brings people together and gives a chance of making up when the dark time arrives.”

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You can watch the full video here

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- Tracy Chevalier about Vermeer.

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Cozy afternoon at the National Gallery 🎨

- Gainsborough, T., 1772, Elizabeth and Mary Linley, The National Gallery, London.

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- Dolci, C., 1662, Vase of flowers, The Uffizi, Florence.

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- Hobbema, M., 1689, The avenue at Middelharnis, The National Gallery, London.

- Hobbema, M., c.1667/8, A road winding past cottages, The National Gallery, London.

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- Artemisia Gentileschi