Sonia Delaunay, Flamenco Singers, Known As Large Flamenco, 1915-1916. Tate Modern, London. © CAM –

Jean-Étienne Liotard, The Chocolate Girl, 1744-45, pastel on parchment, 82.5 x 52.5 cm, Gemäldegalerie, Dresden. Source

Jean-Étienne Liotard was a Swiss-French painter specialising in portraits and figurative scenes. This is one of his most famous works and was created using pastels on parchment. Liotard will be the subject of a major exhibition at the Royal Academy this autumn.

Jewish cemetery in Yeghegis, Armenia, 13th century

Happy Hanukkah!

Synagogue Hanukkah lamp Brass Poland, early 19th century Collection of Yeshiva University Museum Gift of Erica and Ludwig Jesselson This Hanukkah lamp was formerly in the Charles E. Feinberg Collection

Studying Torah on We Heart It. http://weheartit.com/entry/67125142/via/aestheticpleasures

Jewish Art in Late Antiquity and Early Byzantium

“In the first centuries C.E., Jewish communities could be found in every corner of the Roman empire, from Sardis (Turkey) to Ostia (Italy), from Hamman Lif (Tunisia) to Intercisa (Hungary). The archaeological remnants and literary attestations of more than 150 synagogues throughout the empire make clear that Jews were integral to the urban landscape of late antiquity, well beyond the borders of Roman Palestine. In early Byzantine synagogues, specifically Jewish symbols—shofarot (ram’s horns), menorot (branched lamps), and Torah shrines—might appear alongside pomegranates, birds, lions, and fountains. Asia Minor, in particular, boasted numerous, and often prosperous, Jewish communities. The third-century synagogue in the Roman garrison town of Dura-Europos, like the Christian meeting house and the shrine devoted to the Persian god Mithras that stood just yards away, was adorned with sumptuous painting. Splendid murals with narrative scenes from the Bible covered the synagogue’s walls; painted tiles of zodiacal symbols ornamented its ceiling. Plaques with dedicatory inscriptions give some indication of the individuals and families who funded the building of such synagogues. ”

An auctioneer scores a book deal, a museum receives a $70 million gift, and Sotheby’s announces the sale of an extraordinary work by Lucian Freud — this and more in this week’s news.

Read more in ARTPHAIRE.

Lucian Freud, “Head on a Green Sofa (1960-61)” Estimate: 2,500,000-3,500,000 GBP. Courtesy of Sotheby’s.

This is a JMN Poster (Jewish Multiracial Network) aimed at advancing Jewish diversity through community building and empowerment with Jewish people of Color and Jewish multiracial families.

“Roundabouts” - finished a few days ago. Artwork size: 8"x10". Unlimited prints will be available in 8"x10" and 5"x7". A limited, signed-and-numbered edition will soon be available. The artwork will measure 8"x10" on 12"x16" superb-quality paper. #art #artbytroythomas #geometricabstract #scribble #fineart

Hand-stencil rock art from Gua Tewet, Borneo, thought to be over 10,000 years old.

Photo courtesy of Luc-Henri Fage, via the Wiki Commons.

Martha Nelson Joins Yahoo as Global Editor-in-Chief

By Kathy Savitt, CMO and Head of Media

Yahoo Media, including Yahoo’s new Digital Magazines, are comprised of some of the media industry’s strongest editorial and publishing talent, and today I’m happy to announce our newest addition, Global Editor-in-Chief, Martha Nelson.  Martha joins us on August 17th and will be based in our New York office, reporting to me. 

As an accomplished editor, proven brand innovator and media veteran, Martha adds to Yahoo’s established media business to continue to elevate our world-class products and journalism. In January 2014, we launched our first Digital Magazines and have since built 13 in the United States and 30 globally, which are rapidly rising to the top of their categories. With her proven track record of building successful brands as the founding editor of InStyle and for the growth of People (and People.com) into a globally recognized brand, I’m excited to work with Martha to further grow our Digital Magazines.

Most recently, Martha was the first female editor-in-chief of Time Inc., where she oversaw the editorial content for the media company’s 21 brands.  She has received many accolades for her outstanding work, including “Editor of the Year” by Adweek and Forbes Most Powerful Women three years in a row.  She is a trustee of both the National Trust for Historic Preservation and The Actors Fund, serves as a judge for the Peabody Awards.