In art there are various ways to encourage consideration of the eternal over the temporal; the Alhambra does so by the use of symmetrical and abstract patterns.

The anamorphic skull at the bottom of Hans Holbein’s double portrait “The Ambassadors” seems out of place, until you understand how and why it got there.

Why are there so many arches in Raphael’s “The School of Athens?” Learn what the arches signify, and what they have to do with Plato, Aristotle, and Euclid.

Why study an image that has no single accepted interpretation? “The Flagellation of Christ” goes to show that there is always something to learn from true art.

Botticelli’s famous painting, “The Birth of Venus” is a beautiful example of Renaissance art—beauty that is in part the product of mathematical genius.

Renaissance artist Michelangelo had great knowledge of human anatomy. Could this possibly explain a very biological interpretation of “The Creation of Adam?”

“The Last Judgment” is a stunning fresco, and owes its beauty in part to the ultramarine used for the sky. Learn about the history of this paint and painting.

Picasso’s works are very valuable, but often difficult to interpret. Learning about Picasso’s culture can help you understand these intense works of art.