Giovanni da San Giovanni, The Painter of Creative Fantasy

Giovanni da San Giovanni (Giovanni Mannozzi), Italian painter and draughtsman. He was the most distinguished of the artists working in fresco in 17th-century Florence. An eccentric personality, he was attracted by the charm and informality of northern art and by a satirical approach to classical themes. Born in San Giovanni Valdarno, Giovanni da San Giovanni […]

Piero di Cosimo, Florentine Painter of Classical Mythology

Piero di Cosimo (2 January 1462 – 1521), also known as Piero di Lorenzo, was an Italian Renaissance painter. The son of a goldsmith, Piero was born in Florence and apprenticed under the artist Cosimo Rosseli, from whom he derived his popular name and whom he assisted in the painting of the Sistine Chapel in […]

Pinturicchio, Raphael’s Analogue

Bernardino di Betto, known also as Pintoricchio, was born between 1456 and 1460 in Perugia to a modest family of artisans. The early life of the painter seems to have been very unhappy and was further complicated in 1475 when his father, a simple cloth tanner, died of the plague. Some years before, however, Giapeco […]

Franciabigio, the Portrait Painter

Franciabigio (1482 – January 24, 1525) was an Italian painter during the time of the Florentine Renaissance. It has been discovered that his real name may have been Francesco di Cristofano, however he also is referred to as either Marcantonio Franciabigio or Francia Bigio. Born in Florence, he initially worked under Albertinelli until around 1506. […]

Sano di Pietro, the Prolific Artist

Sano di Pietro was one of the most prolific and successful Sienese painters, the head of a workshop that satisfied the demands of civic and religious institutions in the city as well as those of private devotion. His production, technically always of a very fine quality, rich in decorative effects, and characterized by a brilliant […]

Sassetta ( Stefano di Giovanni ), the Painter With Renaissance Style

Stefano di Giovanni, known as il Sassetta, (1392 – 1450 or 1451) was born in Siena, although there is also an hypothesis that he was born in Cortona. However, the first historical record of him was in Siena in 1423. Di Giovanni was probably the apprentice of Paolo di Giovanni Fei although it is also […]

An introduction to Raphael the artist

Raphael Sanzio, or simply Raphael, was an Italian Renaissance architect and painter. Considered a child prodigy, in his brief career spanning only two decades, Raphael shaped the course of Western culture like few artists before or since. In this video, explore Raphael’s entire career, examining his celebrated paintings and drawings, as well as his architectural, […]

Most Commonly Used Herbal Supplements

Products made from botanicals, or plants, that are used to treat diseases or to maintain health are called herbal products, botanical products, or phytomedicines. A product made from plants and used solely for internal use is called an herbal supplement. The following list of common herbal supplements is for informational purposes only. Talk to your doctor to discuss […]

NASA Discovers Second Earth-Sized World in Planetary System

Using data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, scientists have identified an Earth-size world, called TOI 700 e, orbiting within the habitable zone of its star – the range of distances where liquid water could occur on a planet’s surface. The world is 95% Earth’s size and likely rocky. “This is one of only a […]

The Beauty of Chinese Jade

Jade (from the mineral jadeite), has an intense green color, it is also white, the latter is appreciated in Europe. It is reputed for its durability, magical qualities and beauty. Some ancient cultures worked it and embellished their culture, such as the Mayans and the Chinese. However, in China it reached its most refined and […]