Greek Muse Murals

The Muses are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory). There are nine muses, each of whom presides over an art or science. The muses are: Calliope, Muse of Epic Poetry; Clio, Muse of History; Euterpe, Muse of Lyric Poetry; Melpomene, Muse of Tragedy; Terpsichore, Muse of Choral Dance and Song; Erato, Muse of Love Poetry; Polyhymnia, Muse of Sacred Poetry; Urania, Muse of Astronomy; and Thalia Muse of Comedy (Bulfinch's Mythology). Modern words that derive from "muse" include "museum" and "music."

You can find this painting of Melpomene in a mural at the U.S. Library of Congress.

Melpomene
By Edward Emerson Simmons (1852–1931)
Photographed by Carol Highsmith

A fresco at the Vatican, Rome:
Apollo and the Muses at Parnassus
By Raphael

This detail is from Sacred Dance and the Muses, by Benjamin F. Long, IV, painted on the ceiling in the atrium of the City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium, N.C.

Links:
How to Make a Fresco.
Quiz: Which Greek Muse are you?
Quiz: Can you match the muse with their specialty?
A free Greek Muses printable coloring book
A logic puzzle about the Muses.

Afghan Art

I was excited to find out about these contemporary young Afghani artists.

By Nabila Horekhsh

by Manezha

by Fareha Ghezal Yousufzai


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A New York Times article about Women and Modern Art in Afghanistan
A History of Modern Art in Afghanistan
An article: Afghan women turn to art
Saving Afghanistan's Art, a Time article from 2008

Two I'd Put in My Art Collection

I went to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and saw a lot of wonderful pieces. You can make your own "art collection" on their site by browsing their artworks and then clicking on your favorites.

Gold is Where You Find It
By Tyrone Comfort

The Spinet
Thomas Wilmer Dewing

Winslow Homer!

Girl Carrying A Basket
By Winslow Homer

The New Novel
By Winslow Homer