The woman in this icon is a mysterious figure. Thought to have lived in the 3rd century, in present-day Lebanon, no reference was made to her until the 7th century and, even then, doubts continued to the present day. Yet hagiographies (biographies of the saints) continued to mention her, possibly filling in details of herContinue reading “The Girl in the Tower”
Category Archives: Collections
Dragon Slayer
Listen, lords, in bower and hall, I sing the wonderous birth Of brave St. George, whose valorous arm Rid monsters from the earth -“The Birth of St. George” as recorded by Thomas Percy in Reliques of Ancient English Poetry (1765) St. George is celebrated across Europe, hailed as a religious martyr, dragon-slayer, and knight inContinue reading “Dragon Slayer”
Remembering President Kennedy
On this day, sixty years ago, the youngest man was elected to our nation’s highest office. His name was John F. Kennedy. John was a born-and-bred American, of Irish descent, who had been educated at Harvard and served in the United States’s Navy in World War II. In 1943, when his PT boat was rammedContinue reading “Remembering President Kennedy”
The Learned Saint: Theresa of Ávila
Knowing Teresa’s life helps to interpret this painting, held by the Kentucky Museum.
She’s Got Style
History suggests that as “big business” started to take hold in the late 1800s, women became more involved in business and working outside the home. However, few women owned companies. Those that did were in industries centered on women, such as home goods, apparel, or personal care. Today, women own only 40% of businesses inContinue reading “She’s Got Style”
Thinking about Columbus
Columbus Day, or Indigenous Peoples Day? This lithograph print in our collections helps discuss the controversy.
The Female Portraitist of Paris
When we think of women in the eighteenth century, we don’t often think of professional success and freedom. Yet between 1780 and 1810, many French women defied the domestic stereotype, reaching artistic success despite being denied admittance to classes on life drawing or the artistic academies.
Who art thou, Juliette?
Do you recognize the woman in the painting? This is Jeanne Françoise Julie Adélaïde Récamier – more commonly called Juliette or Madame Récamier – at the age of 28. She was a European celebrity in the early 19th century, known across Paris for her salon where leading literary and political circles gathered. Her story wasContinue reading “Who art thou, Juliette?”
Pistol Packin’ Pearl
Did you know Pistol Packin Pearl? Discover the first Kentucky woman elected to a four-year term as sheriff and the first Kentucky woman appointed by a president to a national post.
Tippecanoe and Tyler Too…in a Quilt
Have you heard of “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too”? We explore this famous slogan, the song that inspired it, and the quilt that commemorates it.