33 episodes
Art of History Amanda Matta
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- Arts
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4.8 • 243 Ratings
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Episodes from history, viewed through great works of art. No pre-reqs required! New episodes every month. Hosted by Amanda Matta, art historian and TikTok's favorite royal commentator.
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Joséphine: More than a Queen
It may have been easy for Joséphine de Beauharnais (1763-1814) to scoff at the “extraordinary destiny” once promised to her by a fortune-teller. From the Island of Martinique, where she spent her girlhood, to the shadow of the guillotine, where she became a single mother, Josephine likely never would have predicted her remarkable rise to become “more than a queen”—until, that is, she met one Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821).
Today's Image: Sir David Wilkie, Joséphine and the Fortune-teller (1837). Oil on Canvas. National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh.
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New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!
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Email: artofhistorypod@gmail.com
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Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast
TikTok: @artofhistorypod | @matta_of_fact
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Art History Horror Story: The Nightmare
Swiss painter Henry Fuseli (1741-1825) was the man behind one of art history’s most famous spooky paintings: ‘The Nightmare.’ But how much do you actually know about this dream-fuelled Gothic image?
Henry Fuseli, The Nightmare (1781). Oil on Canvas. Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan.
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New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!
Email: artofhistorypod@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/matta_of_fact
Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast
TikTok: @artofhistorypod // @matta_of_fact
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Eighth Wonder, Vanished: The Amber Room
Last seen in 1945, the Amber Room is the world’s most valuable missing piece of art, valued as highly as $500 million. Looted by the Nazis after Operation Barbarossa, this “Eighth Wonder of the World” once symbolized peace and unity. Today, it instead represents one of art history’s greatest mysteries.
Today's Artwork: The Amber Room. Catherine Palace/Tsarskoye Selo State Museum and Heritage Site.
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New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!
Email: artofhistorypod@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/matta_of_fact
Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast
TikTok: @artofhistorypod // @matta_of_fact
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Cities of Women: Christine de Pizan with Dr. Kathleen B. Jones
Dr. Kathleen B. Jones joins us on the podcast to discuss not only her new book, CITIES OF WOMEN, but also to dive into the life of literary and artistic icon Christine de Pizan (1364/65-1431).
Listen to our conversation to hear how Christine became not only the first professional female writer in Europe, but also the first person in France to earn a living as a writer, period. Plus, we discuss the ins and outs of medieval manuscript-making, and the parallels between the obstacles faced by professional women in Christine's day and our own.
‘Cities of Women’ is out on September 5, 2023 - get your copy here!
Today's Work: Christine de Pizan, ‘The Book of the Queen’ (Harley MS 4431) (c. 1410-1414). Parchment manuscript. 36.5 x 28.5 cm. British Library, London.
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______
New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!
Email: artofhistorypod@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/matta_of_fact
Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast
TikTok: @artofhistorypod // @matta_of_fact
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Art Bite: Thomas Cromwell's Book of Hours
When historians first made the link between a book of hours at Trinity College, Cambridge and two others belonging to Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, they weren't just identifying who owned it. Yes, yes - the book was owned by Henry VIII's right-hand-man (for a time, at least): Thomas Cromwell. But this remarkable book has now become the only object from any 16th-century portrait to survive to this day.
What can such an item tell us about the man who owned it, his times, and what he wanted everyone who saw his portrait to know?
Today's artwork(s): Hans Holbein the Younger, Portrait of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex (1532-33). Oil on panel, 30.7 in × 25.2 in. Frick Collection, New York.
AND the 1527 Book of Hours, on display at Hever Castle through November 2023.
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New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!
Email: artofhistorypod@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/matta_of_fact
Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast
Twitter: @ArtHistoricPod
TikTok: @artofhistorypod // @matta_of_fact
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Art Bite: Anne of Cleves' House
Divorced, beheaded, died... divorced...
A house connected to Anne of Cleves (1515-1557), Henry VIII's fourth wife, is currently on the market! Let's discuss the Grade I listed property and a tidbit of Anne's story in this Art Bite.
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Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/arthistory50 and use code arthistory50 for 50% off plus free shipping!
_________
New episodes every month. Let's keep in touch!
Email: artofhistorypod@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/matta_of_fact
Instagram: @artofhistorypodcast
TikTok: @artofhistorypod // @matta_of_fact
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Reviews
Informative!
Sober. Very well written. A good voice with clear pronunciation.
Entirely worthwhile.
Obsessed
The amount of art history I have learned blows my mind! Every episode is carefully thought out and entertaining!
What a Find-Smart, palatable and a beautiful journey
I listened to an interview Amanda did on a different podcast and found out about Art of History. And, I’m thrilled about it! I’ve started with the first one and can’t stop listening. It is now my topic of choice during Watercooler chats at work. “So, I’ve started this new podcast called Art of History and todays episode was about….” 🤓 (Look, if I’ve got to listen to fantasy football leagues, they can listen to me gush a bit about historical significance of neoclassical art subjects-insert: Death of Marat episode here)
I am am a novice in the art and history world and know next to nothing other than I enjoy looking at art and hearing good stories.
Amanda does a fantastic job detailing the art piece before jumping into the history. I like to pull up the photo of the art before I play the podcast to get my own perspective. Then I listen to Amanda and feel like I’m on a personal tour.
Once we’ve explored the painting, her story telling ability takes you on a digestible historical journey. I just listened to the Joan of Arc podcast and feel so inspired! Inspired to be like Joan, inspired to learn more, inspired to speak up, inspired to trust my instincts. Just so inspired.
I’m so happy to have heard Amanda on the “straight up with Stassi” podcast.