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Journal of Art in Society

@artinsociety.bsky.social

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Philip McCouat writes in-depth articles on art, history and social change in the Journal of Art in Society at http://artinsociety.com

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · Aug 10

JUST PUBLISHED! Our latest article features a painting by an artist who in recent times has achieved extraordinary fame after having been forgotten for almost 300 years ~ it’s Georges de La Tour’s ‘The Musicians Quarrel’ and you can read all about it at www.artinsociety.com/emerging-fro...

Two itinerant musicians, one of them blind, are armed with their instruments as they struggle with each other, as two others look on amused, and female companion of the blind man looks aghast

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 4d

Which of these two versions of The Lute Player is an original by Caravaggio? The Met Museum in New York has previously said that it’s the one on the right. But other experts’ view ~ that it’s the one on the left ~ has now been supported by AI analysis
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 4d

These lemons, oranges & pomegranate in a Chinese blue-and-white porcelain bowl (with subtle water droplets on the tabletop) proclaim their freshness and life ~ but already a fly has alighted to start the process of decay…. (Jacob van Hulsdonck, 1620s) www.getty.edu/news/what-is...

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 5d

Despite its name, the Bird-Dropping Beetle definitely does not drop any birds ~ instead, it looks just like a bird’s dropping (Excastra albopilosa). The disguise is so effective that no-one noticed it till 2024. Now it’s a finalist for Australian Insect of the Year
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 5d

Famed architect Palladio’s last commission was the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza. The stage set for its first performance in 1585 was a masterpiece of illusion which convincingly depicted roads disappearing into the distance. Incredibly it’s still there to this day. Tks @JonathanMendel1

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 6d

This sandal, woven from grasses and twigs about 650 years ago, has been found in the nest of a bearded vulture, preserved in the cool dry air of a cave in southern Spain (National Geographic; photo Sergio Couto)
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 6d

Astonishing sculpture of 60 detailed figures carved from a single block of Carrara marble ~ Francesco Bertos’ Fall of the Rebel Angels (c 1730). Suspicion that his skill was beyond human ability led to his being questioned by the Inquisition. Tks @JonathanMendel1
gallerieditalia.com/en/vicenza/e...

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 7d

Elegance without being gaudy

Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 7d

Beautifully restrained necklace worn by the Egyptian Princess Khenmet at least 3,900 years ago, with falcon’s head clasp and protective gold amulets inlaid with semiprecious stones, such as carnelian, turquoise & lapis lazuli (ca 1932-1898 BC) egypt-museum.com/necklace-of-...

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 8d

From ancient Egypt, more than 3,000 years ago ~ this wooden cosmetic spoon with handle in the shape of a biting, running jackal (ca 1539-1292 BC)
opencollection.brooklynmuseum.org/objects/4065

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 9d

Eye-catching mural of a fisherman tending to his nets, painted by Elle Koziupa in 2025 in Newquay, Cornwall, celebrating the town’s fishing history (Muqy Street Art Trail) www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/...

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 10d

Warm sunlight slants across the building walls, and at the end of the lane, a clear sky of gradually deepening blue ~ Scottish-born artist James Proudfoot’s ‘Sun on a House, Dieppe’ (1937)

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 11d

In 1945, artist NC Wyeth was killed when hit by a train at a railway crossing. His stricken son Andrew’s tribute/farewell to him was this enigmatic ‘Winter 1946’, set over the hill from where the accident occurred, and showing himself as a young man running, erratically

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 12d

On a brilliant sunny day in Paris, family and friends gather to chat and relax in the shade at Le Parc Monceau (1878). This was one of Claude Monet’s last paintings of Paris

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 13d

Enjoying 20C English artist Malcolm Midwood Milne’s "Barrow Hill" (1939) Salford Museum & Art Gallery

countryside scene, large tilled hill with some sparce trees, and farm buildings in foreground

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 13d

JS Sargent was obsessed with depicting Virginie Gautreau ~ here’s his ‘Portrait of Madame X’, as exhibited in 1884, with (gasp!) a suggestively slipped shoulder strap. The hysterical outrage over this affront to decency led Sargent to add a more decorous strap (at R)

Elegant woman, brown hair, low cut black gown, standing and looking off to the side

same as previous painting, except that both straps are in place

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 14d

Highly influential 20C photographer Robert Frank was once described as the “Manet of the new photography”, and his images as “cinematic, immediate, off-kilter and grainy” ~ here’s his young son Pablo in Times Square (1953)

Young boy in romper suit runs toward a huge crowd in Times Square / blurred neon signs ahead

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 15d

Probably just my imagination, but I like the nostalgic charm and vague air of potential adventure in 20C French painter Raoul du Gardier’s “Washing Down the Deck” (La Lavage du Pont)

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 16d

A correction ~ the painting of Hazel Lavery in our recent post should have been dated as 1910, not 1927

Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 16d

Hi, just a simple human error, I'm afraid -- Philip

Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 16d

Yes, thank you, I'll be issuing a correction shortly

Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 16d

Here’s a couple of splendid Eupholus magnificus weevils minding their own business in the forests of New Guinea (photo: Rob de Vos)

Two large blue, black and aqua-striped weevils creep up a tree trunk

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 17d

Irish portraitist John Lavery depicts his wife Hazel in 1927, sketching outside in the sunlight. Hazel was famous for her beauty, & Lavery used her as the model for “a female personification of Ireland” which appeared on Irish banknotes for many decades

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 17d

Spectacular stained glass and decorative murals by Józef Mehoffer in the recently-restored Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Turek, Poland (photo: Marcin Derucki)

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 18d

In the relatively undisturbed countryside outside Paris, Henri Biva depicts the river in the early morning, focusing on strong light effects and foliage detail (Morning at Villeneuve l’Etang: From Waters Edge, 1905)

View of wide, still river, with reflections of opposite shore, as seen from the river bank, with leafy green plants and overhanging trees

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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 19d

Cartier made this stunning bandeau for Lady Mountbatten in 1928. Its Indian-inspired “Tutti Frutti” design features sapphires, rubies and emeralds engraved in the shape of leaves, buds and berries (V&A Museum, London)

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