Videos

The ancient Maya queen Lady K’abal Xook (Lady Xoc) of Yaxchilán appears on three of the most famous examples of Maya art (and Mesoamerican art!), including Lintel 25. Find out why! Learn more about art history, history, and archaeology: https://www.artsq.org/ Lintel 25 shows Lady Xook experiencing a Vision Serpent after a bloodletting ritual. Married to Shield Jaguar (Itzamnaaj Bahlam III), Lady Xook is shown in an important role for ancient Maya women on this lintel, originally on Structure 23. This video is a detailed overview of the complex iconography on Lintel 25. Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank Main image: Lintel 25 showing Lady K'abal Xook and Vision Serpent, c. 723–26 CE, carved and painted limestone, from Structure 23, Yaxchilán, Chiapas, Mexico, 121 x 85.5 cm The British Museum, London *CHAPTERS* 0:00 Introduction to Lady K’abal Xook (Lady Xoc) on Lintel 25 0:30 The Maya City-State of Yaxchilán 0:57 Lady Xook’s clothing and accouterments 1:50 The Snake-like Figure 3:05 Bloodletting and Maya Royal Women 3:42 Summoning a Vision Serpent 4:39 Visual Doubling 4:57 Polychromy and Maya Blue 5:39 Structure 23 and Its Lintels 6:18 Shield Jaguar, Structure 23, and Maya Rulership 7:35 Other Queens Adapt Lady Xook’s Appearance Learn about the ancient Maya: https://www.artsq.org/the-ancient-maya-of-mesoamerica Need an introduction to the Classic Maya? https://www.artsq.org/store/p/introduction-to-ancient-maya-reading Join this channel membership to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNSZVIXd3ZgTFRv9vHJKU8Q/join ---------------------------- *SUPPORT OUR WORK?* Become a patron to help us create materials for our channel! Patreon—https://www.patreon.com/ARTSQ *WANT TO LEARN MORE? HAVE A QUESTION?* http://artsq.org/ *JOIN OUR COMMUNITIES ON SOCIAL* Instagram—https://www.instagram.com/artsq_official Facebook—https://www.facebook.com/ARTSQofficial #mesoamerica #queen #arthistory #mexico #archaeology #mayans #historyofart #womeninhistory #medievalart #ancientamerica #learningisfun #history #ancientamerica #worldhistory #blood

This video examines the Irish medieval Bell-Shrine of St. Mura, a relic and reliquary primarily made of bronze with silver additions and rock crystal. This object gives us insight into early Christianity, faith, and community in the early Middle Ages in Ireland—and it also has connections to Saint Patrick and the Urnes style of the Norse! Main object: The Bell Shrine of St Mura, 11th–16th centuries, bronze, brass, silver, parcel-gilt, rock crystal, and amber, 15.5 cm x 8.7 cm x 6.7 cm. The Wallace Collection, London This video is perfect for anyone interested in: ✅ Medieval Art ✅ Ireland and Irish History ✅ Art History Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more videos about art history, history, and archaeology! It really helps our small channel, and we appreciate it. *CHAPTERS* 0:00 Looking at a medieval bell-shrine 0:43 Handbells and their precious cases in early Christianity in Ireland 1:17 Bells as associative relics 2:02 Saint Mura 2:31 Rock crystal 3:02 Decoration: interlace, filigree, openwork, and the Urnes Style 4:15 Protecting precious relics Check out our entire glossary of art history: https://www.artsq.org/about-key-terms-ideas-art-history Join this channel membership to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNSZVIXd3ZgTFRv9vHJKU8Q/join ---------------------------- *SUPPORT OUR WORK?* Become a patron to help us create materials for our channel! Patreon—https://www.patreon.com/ARTSQ ##arthistory #ireland #medievalart #history #bells #irishart #saintpatricksday #irish #medieval #middleages #historyofart #symbolism #relics

Explore the massive Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan, an ancient site known for its incredible architecture. This video on the city's grid plan and apartment compounds is a way to discuss urbanization and social and political organization. This video is intended to get people thinking about what is important about planning a city on a grid. Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank More resources about Mesoamerica: https://www.artsq.org/mesoamerica-introduction *CHAPTERS* 0:00 Introduction to Teotihuacan 0:42 What is a grid plan, and what are apartment compounds? 2:00 The Teotihuacanos 2:33 Apartment compounds 3:50 Social organization Learn more about Mesoamerica art: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbEekN1fVPuc8jMb-K1vq8ekgZ4fVuALY&si=KzWV2FcErlhUXSAd Check out our entire glossary of art history! https://www.artsq.org/about-key-terms-ideas-art-history ----------------------------- *WANT TO LEARN MORE? HAVE A QUESTION?* http://artsq.org/ *INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING OUR WORK?* Become a patron to help us create materials for our channel! Patreon—https://www.patreon.com/ARTSQ *JOIN OUR COMMUNITIES ON SOCIAL* Instagram—https://www.instagram.com/artsq_official Facebook—https://www.facebook.com/ARTSQofficial #ArtHistory #teotihuacan #mesoamerica #Glossary #Archaeology #SocialStudies #educationalvideo #Vocabulary #HistoryOfArt #art #History #americanart #ancienthistory #mexico #architecture

Frida Kahlo’s final painting, Viva la Vida, is a powerful symbol of life’s celebration. This video examines in detail the famous Mexican painter’s depiction of watermelons, her style and historical models, and the painting’s historical context. The modern still-life painting is more complex than it might initially appear. Note: In this video, we chose to use Frida to refer to Frida Kahlo because that is how most people often discuss her—it’s familiar. But ideally, people would use Kahlo’s last name when referring to her, much as they would most male artists. Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank *CHAPTERS* 0:00 Introduction to Frida Kahlo’s Viva la Vida 0:32 A brief introduction Frida Kahlo 1:47 Kahlo’s Still Lifes 2:03 Looking Closely at Viva la Vida 3:32 Associations with the Mexican Flag 3:58 Connections to Día de Muertos 4:34 Naturaleza Muerta 4:53 Scale and Borrowing from 19th-century artists Hermenegildo Bustos and Agustín Arrieta Main artwork: Frida Kahlo, Viva la Vida, 1954. Museo Frida Kahlo. *LEARN MORE* Mexican art playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbEekN1fVPufiiHFswrVg8usvKGjMy5ll&si=xOC7dhLvFcuLTpqE ----------------------------- www.artsq,org *We’d love your support to keep making more content!* Patreon—https://www.patreon.com/ARTSQ *Follow us* Instagram—https://www.instagram.com/artsq_official Facebook—https://www.facebook.com/ARTSQofficial #fridakahlo #mexicocity #arthistory #worldhistory #modern #modernart #womenartists #Mexico #modernart #stilllife #biography #famous #educationalvideo #mexicanartist #cdmx

What did spring in April look like 600 years ago? In a scene from the medieval illuminated manuscript known as Très Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry, nobles gather for a wedding and to pick wildflowers. And they are dressed fabulously in garments like houppelandes, cotehardies, and poulaines. The calendar pages in this book of hours blend earthly labor with celestial symbolism. The image reveals how medieval art fused reality, religion, history, and myth into a single page. Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank *CHAPTERS* 0:00 Spring in France 0:27 Calendar Pages in a Luxury Book of Hours 1:13 Elegantly Dressed Nobles and Marriage Scene 2:56 The Symbolism of Spring 3:28 The château de Dourdan 3:58 Blossoming Flora 4:19 The Lunette and Zodiac Signs Image: April, in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry (c. 1412–16), Limbourg Brothers and other artists. Musée Condé, Chantilly, France. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more videos about art history, history, and archaeology! It really helps our small channel, and we appreciate it. 🌸 Learn more about Spring in Art: https://www.artsq.org/spring-season Check out videos about each calendar page in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbEekN1fVPufbVd4P-JKZkvl4IjbcttP3 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNSZVIXd3ZgTFRv9vHJKU8Q/join ---------------------------- *WANT TO LEARN MORE? HAVE A QUESTION?* http://artsq.org/ *INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING OUR WORK?* Become a patron to help us create materials for our channel! Patreon—https://www.patreon.com/ARTSQ *JOIN OUR COMMUNITIES ON SOCIAL* Instagram—https://www.instagram.com/artsq_official #arthistory #medievalart #middleages #artexplained #medieval #bookhistory #april #calendar #historyofart #gothicart #manuscript #symbolism #gothic #medievalhistory #spring

Dogs have been immortalized in art across the globe for thousands of years. Some of the most captivating examples in art history are Colima dogs from ancient West Mexico. This video examines these ancient ceramics, trying to piece together what they mean, how they functioned, and what they symbolized in Mesoamerica. Unfortunately, many of these figurines have been looted, making it challenging to understand them. Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank *CHAPTERS* 0:00 Dogs immortalized in art and Colima dogs in West Mexico 0:21 Colima dogs and Xolo dogs 0:54 Colima dog sculptures 1:26 Why are they in ceramics? 2:02 Placed in tombs 2:30 Looted objects Learn more about Mesoamerica: https://www.artsq.org/mesoamerica-introduction Join this channel membership to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNSZVIXd3ZgTFRv9vHJKU8Q/join ---------------------------- *SUPPORT OUR WORK?* Become a patron to help us create materials for our channel! Patreon—https://www.patreon.com/ARTSQ *WANT TO LEARN MORE? HAVE A QUESTION?* http://artsq.org/ *JOIN OUR COMMUNITIES ON SOCIAL* Instagram—https://www.instagram.com/artsq_official Facebook—https://www.facebook.com/ARTSQofficial #mesoamerica #dog #arthistory #mexico #archaeology #westmexico #historyofart #colima #ancientart #ancientamerica #learningisfun #history #ancientartifact #worldhistory #dogs

This video focuses on Francisco de Zurbarán's painting Saint Lucy, a notable example of Spanish Baroque realism from 1625–30. This sacred artwork is notable for its striking realism, with dramatic lighting and detailed textures. She holds her eyeballs on a plate before her, symbols of her identity. Learn more about Zurbarán's Saint Lucy and early modern Spain in this video. Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank *CHAPTERS* 0:00 Spanish Baroque realism 0:39 A Spanish noblewoman? 1:00 The legend of Saint Lucy and her eyeballs 2:27 Zurbarán's visual choices 3:23 Sacred images and 17th-century Spain Main image: Francisco de Zurbarán, Saint Lucy, c. 1625/1630, oil on canvas, overall: 104.14 × 77 cm (41 × 30 5/16 in.). National Gallery, Washington, D.C. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more videos about art history, history, and archaeology! It really helps our small channel, and we appreciate it. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNSZVIXd3ZgTFRv9vHJKU8Q/join ---------------------------- *WANT TO LEARN MORE? HAVE A QUESTION?* http://artsq.org/ *INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING OUR WORK?* Become a patron to help us create materials for our channel! Patreon—https://www.patreon.com/ARTSQ *JOIN OUR COMMUNITIES ON SOCIAL* Instagram—https://www.instagram.com/artsq_official #arthistory #baroque #baroqueart #artexplained #saintlucy #spanishart #spain #17thcentury #saints #symbolism #symbolisminart

The ancient Maya site of Yaxchilán is situated on the banks of the Usumacinta River, on the border between Mexico and Guatemala. One of the remaining buildings, known as Structure 40, tells us about rulership, lineage, and royal propaganda. Built by Bird Jaguar IV or Yaxum B’ahlam IV in the 8th century, Structure 40 publicized Bird Jaguar IV’s dynastic lineage and helped to justify his rule. The building is in a ruined state today, but we try to give a sense of how it looked and was decorated in its heyday on the South Acropolis at this important Mesoamerican site. Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank *CHAPTERS* 0:00 The site of Yaxchilán 0:38 Rulership and Bird Jaguar IV 1:33 Structure 40 on the South Acropolis 2:20 A roof comb 2:47 The facade 3:50 The interior 4:23 Monuments in front 4:48 Propaganda Learn more about Mesoamerica: https://www.artsq.org/mesoamerica-introduction Join this channel membership to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNSZVIXd3ZgTFRv9vHJKU8Q/join ---------------------------- *SUPPORT OUR WORK?* Become a patron to help us create materials for our channel! Patreon—https://www.patreon.com/ARTSQ *WANT TO LEARN MORE? HAVE A QUESTION?* http://artsq.org/ *JOIN OUR COMMUNITIES ON SOCIAL* Instagram—https://www.instagram.com/artsq_official Facebook—https://www.facebook.com/ARTSQofficial #mesoamerica #ancientmaya #arthistory #mexico #archaeology #yaxchilan #historyofart #aparthistory #ancientart #ancientamerica #learningisfun #history #medievalart #worldhistory #medieval