How many verbal stories or movies tell dozens of different stories? Here are paintings that are not only so rich in narrative, but tell all those stories at the same time.
Tintoretto
Yellow ochre, orpiment, Naples yellow, lead-tin yellow, Indian yellow, chrome yellow, and cadmium yellow – most toxic or at least harmful to someone.
The shepherds become more real and tatty from the Renaissance and Giorgione to Murillo and Bastien-Lepage.
Before the 19th century, most paintings of deserts were imaginary. Then artists started to paint them at first hand. Paintings up to 1864.
Comedy is unusual in paintings, and where it occurs, it’s more usually a visual joke. But there are exceptions in a tale-within-a-tale from Homer.
Blurring for dramatic effect, and to mimic photographic depth of field effects, were used in the 19th century, but motion blur came later.
From about 1530, painting started to change. Brushstrokes became visible, anatomy exaggerated, composition less balanced and ideal. First Mannerism, then came the Baroque.
Bishop’s crosier, monarch’s sceptre, field-marshal’s baton, or just another fashion accessory?
How rendering of the surface texture of fabrics changed during the southern Renaissance, and new techniques were exported to the north.
Unlike the face and hands, feet are usually covered in paintings. There are plenty of exceptions, but even the naked Phryné wore a pair of sandals.
The Eclectic Light Company 