Ben Lewis
@theuniversalben.bsky.social
Telling stories about art within the bigger picture of soc, econ and pol. Last Leonardo, Art Bust, Art Safari – Books. Podcasts. Documentaries www.benlewisprojects.com #arthistory
If net migration is lower because more Brits are *leaving* the country, then it logically can have nothing to do with any measures to reduce immigration. It’s nothing to do with fewer people coming in. @thetimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:11 PM
If net migration is lower because more Brits are *leaving* the country, then it logically can have nothing to do with any measures to reduce immigration. It’s nothing to do with fewer people coming in. @thetimes.com
Palazzo Reale Napoli. Who can resist a bit of porcelain?
October 23, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Palazzo Reale Napoli. Who can resist a bit of porcelain?
Cf. August Sander, farmer, 1930
September 24, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Cf. August Sander, farmer, 1930
"FOR ALMOST EVERY REPORTING PROJECT, I make a timeline... thicken the chronology as I come across new material, tucking new items between those already in the list. It's the easiest way, I find, to illuminate the forces that propel people from one chess square in their lives to the next."
Yes!!
Yes!!
August 5, 2025 at 3:56 PM
"FOR ALMOST EVERY REPORTING PROJECT, I make a timeline... thicken the chronology as I come across new material, tucking new items between those already in the list. It's the easiest way, I find, to illuminate the forces that propel people from one chess square in their lives to the next."
Yes!!
Yes!!
Admired the phantasmagorical libidinous installation by Lea Gocht at Staatliche Galerien Karlsruhe. The artist made soft toy cats covered in a fabric on which her own skin and body parts were printed, while riffing on a Caspar David Friedrich painting with foam mattresses. Fearless!
June 26, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Admired the phantasmagorical libidinous installation by Lea Gocht at Staatliche Galerien Karlsruhe. The artist made soft toy cats covered in a fabric on which her own skin and body parts were printed, while riffing on a Caspar David Friedrich painting with foam mattresses. Fearless!
The unusual choice of this colour might be related the similarly attired X in Giotto's Stefano Altarpiece in Rome, or to the blue clothing of Christ in the Duc Du Berry and other French Books of Hours
June 16, 2025 at 11:01 AM
The unusual choice of this colour might be related the similarly attired X in Giotto's Stefano Altarpiece in Rome, or to the blue clothing of Christ in the Duc Du Berry and other French Books of Hours
The unusual choice of this colour might be related the similarly attired X in Giotto's Stefano Altarpiece in Rome, or to the blue clothing of Christ in the Duc Du Berry and other French Books of Hours
June 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The unusual choice of this colour might be related the similarly attired X in Giotto's Stefano Altarpiece in Rome, or to the blue clothing of Christ in the Duc Du Berry and other French Books of Hours
The unusual choice of this colour might be related the similarly attired X in Giotto's Stefano Altarpiece in Rome, or to the blue clothing of Christ in the Duc Du Berry and other Frenchs Books of Hours
June 16, 2025 at 10:42 AM
The unusual choice of this colour might be related the similarly attired X in Giotto's Stefano Altarpiece in Rome, or to the blue clothing of Christ in the Duc Du Berry and other Frenchs Books of Hours
4/4 Later Alexandra Bergman wrote something for Airmail
June 9, 2025 at 11:19 AM
4/4 Later Alexandra Bergman wrote something for Airmail
In happier times the Lebanese financier Mr Ahmad and his art collection was the subject of this flattering profile in an interior design museum. I am not sure if the profile is still online
June 9, 2025 at 11:19 AM
In happier times the Lebanese financier Mr Ahmad and his art collection was the subject of this flattering profile in an interior design museum. I am not sure if the profile is still online
I asked Chatgpt to "Write a 600 word review of the exhibition of Sienese painting at the National Gallery in London in the style of the art critic and TV presenter Ben Lewis"
What do you think?
What do you think?
May 20, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I asked Chatgpt to "Write a 600 word review of the exhibition of Sienese painting at the National Gallery in London in the style of the art critic and TV presenter Ben Lewis"
What do you think?
What do you think?
Full moon over Lake Geneva at Lausanne last night. Very Ferdinand Hodler
May 13, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Full moon over Lake Geneva at Lausanne last night. Very Ferdinand Hodler
Entry on him in German volume of legal biographies
April 26, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Entry on him in German volume of legal biographies
“Todd continued to battle with his artistic career with varying success, producing some charming and memorable works alongside some rather weaker ones.”
Admirably candid wall text in Penlee art gallery Penzance. If only the @tate.bsky.social were this honest about some of the artists in their coll
Admirably candid wall text in Penlee art gallery Penzance. If only the @tate.bsky.social were this honest about some of the artists in their coll
April 12, 2025 at 11:58 AM
“Todd continued to battle with his artistic career with varying success, producing some charming and memorable works alongside some rather weaker ones.”
Admirably candid wall text in Penlee art gallery Penzance. If only the @tate.bsky.social were this honest about some of the artists in their coll
Admirably candid wall text in Penlee art gallery Penzance. If only the @tate.bsky.social were this honest about some of the artists in their coll
Llanhydrock, Cornwall
April 11, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Llanhydrock, Cornwall
“We’re kissing lots of ass”
April 10, 2025 at 1:31 PM
“We’re kissing lots of ass”
WTArotF? @warburginstitute.bsky.social
March 9, 2025 at 6:48 PM
WTArotF? @warburginstitute.bsky.social
Mesmerisingly bizarre symbolism in @warburginstitute.bsky.social Tarot card show. Ancient Egypt meets Medievalism meets Futurism in a syncretic soup
March 8, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Mesmerisingly bizarre symbolism in @warburginstitute.bsky.social Tarot card show. Ancient Egypt meets Medievalism meets Futurism in a syncretic soup
Here’s my fave picture from the National Gallery’s Siena exh - teenage Jesus returning from the temple. Look how angry Joseph looks and see his hand gesture - he’s every inch the Jewish dad “Look how you’ve upset your mother. She’s been worried to death about you.” Been there, done that
March 5, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Here’s my fave picture from the National Gallery’s Siena exh - teenage Jesus returning from the temple. Look how angry Joseph looks and see his hand gesture - he’s every inch the Jewish dad “Look how you’ve upset your mother. She’s been worried to death about you.” Been there, done that
This was my wow moment at the National Gallery’s Siena Exh. In his original composition for this Annunciation fresco Amb. Lorenzetti had Mary collapsing against the wall in fright as the Angel arrives. What an extreme expression of emotion! But then toned down to the conventional in final fresco
March 5, 2025 at 2:59 PM
This was my wow moment at the National Gallery’s Siena Exh. In his original composition for this Annunciation fresco Amb. Lorenzetti had Mary collapsing against the wall in fright as the Angel arrives. What an extreme expression of emotion! But then toned down to the conventional in final fresco
Went to the National Gallery Siena exhibition this morning. Beautiful. The superb lighting shows the works as you’ve never seen them before - that is if you have seen then before. But not sure if the TLDR that Siena was as important as Florence in the Renaissance will surprise many art historians
March 5, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Went to the National Gallery Siena exhibition this morning. Beautiful. The superb lighting shows the works as you’ve never seen them before - that is if you have seen then before. But not sure if the TLDR that Siena was as important as Florence in the Renaissance will surprise many art historians
